Part 5/13:
However, the damage was done. The backlash intensified, prompting a formal apology from IGN. In a statement, IGN clarified that their subsidiary's article contained inappropriate language and that the publication "regretted" the phrasing, which was never intended to disrespect the developers or the talent behind the game. They emphasized that the publication was independent and that IGN's overall editorial stance was not responsible for the mistake.
The apology also included a statement that the error was a "literal misunderstanding" by the French team, which was then corrected. Despite this, critics argue that the initial damage—dramatic headlines and mischaracterizations—had already influenced the narrative.