Swen Vincke, CEO of the studio behind Baldur's Gate 3posted and then deleted a tweet saying game critics should have Metacritic-like reviews evaluating them. The relationship dynamic between developers, critics and fans has always been complex, and reviews are rarely free of their own criticisms. Even such a beloved game as Baldur's Gate 3 isn't immune to criticism, and its studio head has an interesting take on how to tackle the problem.
Vincke has made a couple of controversial statements in recent months. Above all is Baldur's Gate 3 the developer came under fire for statements about AI, revealing that Larian actively used the technology in development. While Vincke has since clarified those comments, assuring fans that Larian's AI use would be minimal and that nothing AI-generated would be in any final product, the situation still rubbed many the wrong way, and now it seems a new wave of controversy is headed Vincke's way.
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Baldur's Gate 3 Boss Says Reviewers Should Be Reviewed
In a now-deleted tweet, Vincke said: “Sometimes I think it would be a good idea for critics to be scored, Metacritic style, based on how others evaluate their criticism.” The post was part of a larger thread, the rest of which is still up, about how harsh criticism can affect developers, which led Larian's CEO to suggest reviews for reviewers, which he said might “encourage a little more restraint.” Larian Studios hasn't had much trouble with critics in its recent work, which Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best-reviewed games of all time, but Vincke went on to explain how reviewers who refused to be harsh helped him in the past. The CEO talked about a critic who reportedly wouldn't review games he considered to be failures to give developers a second chance, and it turned out that Vincke was one such developer with a “failed” game.
Naturally, the comment about critics getting their own review scores received plenty of backlash before it was deleted. Several users, including some game critics, pointed out how different opinions and personal tastes would get in the way of fair critic reviews in the same way they can affect game results. Although some games receive universal acclaim from critics and fans, people rarely agree on anything, so subjectivity will always affect reviews, whether they are about a section of the media or a reviewer of such works. Others pointed out how critics are already vulnerable to severe backlash, putting them in a similar position to developers whose games receive harsh reviews.
Later in the thread, Vincke acknowledged that reviews are necessary, because players need to know if something is worth their money before paying for it. While some games have been closed after bad reviews, these extreme cases often have clear reasons behind the negative response. Fantastically off The day befores servers shortly after launch amid fans accusing them of misleading and even “cheating” them. Cases like these can show how strong feedback is sometimes justified as a means of consumer protection or transparency. However, Vincke expresses that critics can say they did or didn't enjoy something without having to “get personal for the sake of some likes”.
Vincke ended the thread by clarifying that he doesn't agree with developers being rude to or exploiting players either. Still, the suggestion of “Metacritic-style” reviews for critics didn't sit well with many, and the response proved enough to convince the CEO to take down that statement, though the rest of the argument remains. Interestingly, the now-deleted tweet served as a microcosm of the review sphere, as there were plenty of voices both agreeing and disagreeing with Vincke with varying degrees of vehemence.
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, partial nudity, sexual content, strong language, violence
