Part 6/9:
Ryan emphasizes that most negative reviews are buried or left unscored on Metacritic, hinting at a pervasive bias towards positive reception. Critics who dared to voice dissent faced backlash or were threatened with future access denial. For example, Zach Neve, a reviewer for Polygon, reported that Sony or Naughty Dog contacted him after a critical review, suggesting that dissenting opinions are unwelcome.
This environment discourages honest feedback and fosters a culture of self-censorship under the guise of maintaining good relationships with publishers. It also risks distorting public perception, making the game appear more universally praised than it truly is.