Part 3/9:
Evidence of Coercion and Manipulation
Ryan points to a significant example: a review from Vice's Robs Acne, who criticized the game’s story and characters while acknowledging moments of spectacle. Despite this, Naughty Dog purportedly contacted the reviewer, expressing dissatisfaction with their assessment—an unusual move in the gaming industry.
Further, Ryan discusses how some media outlets, like Polygon, have uncovered that Sony allegedly attempted to suppress or influence reviews through behind-the-scenes communication. Polygon's investigative reporting revealed that Sony representatives reached out to discuss critique points, fueling longstanding conspiracy theories about review-bias and editorial influence.