Our Pledge of Independence
In an era of marketing-driven game journalism, GameIsWave operates on a strict set of ethical standards designed to safeguard the trust of our readers.
The Crisis of Confidence in Game Reviews
Over the past two decades, video game journalism has become deeply entangled with the marketing machinery of large publishers. Review access is leveraged to suppress critique, embargo conditions dictate what can and cannot be shown, and review scores are inflated to maintain access.
GameIsWave was created specifically to reject this cozy arrangement. Our allegiance is exclusively to the consumer deciding whether to spend their hard-earned money and valuable free time.
1. No Sponsored Reviews or Paid Verdicts
GameIsWave will never accept payment, hardware gifts, flights, or sponsored arrangements from game developers, publishers, or hardware vendors in exchange for coverage, favorable scores, or verdict alterations. Our BUY, WAIT, and HOLD-OFF ratings cannot be purchased under any circumstances.
2. Retail Copies Over Controlled Review Events
We do not attend publisher-funded review junkets where games are tested on closed, overclocked workstations in sterile hotel environments. Our analysis focuses on retail builds available to ordinary paying consumers through standard storefronts (Steam, Epic, PlayStation Network, Xbox Store).
3. Full Autonomy from PR Embargoes
Publishers frequently tie review codes to restrictive non-disclosure agreements that forbid discussing specific technical flaws, later campaign chapters, or server stability until sales have peaked. We operate outside of publisher review embargoes, prioritizing player awareness over day-zero hype cycles.
4. Transparent Corrections & Patch Logging
When a game significantly improves—or degrades—following post-launch patches, we document the changes openly. We record the updated build number, re-evaluate our metrics, and preserve an honest changelog rather than silently rewriting our previous conclusions.
5. Clear Separation Between Editorial & Affiliate Links
Our editorial decision-making is strictly decoupled from our commercial partnerships. Editorial decisions regarding a game's performance and purchase rating are made without knowledge of affiliate commission rates. A game with a 10% commission rate that stutters will receive the same HOLD-OFF warning as a game with zero commission.
How We Handle Corrections & Updates
Nobody is infallible. When technical bugs or factual mistakes in our database are identified:
- Prompt Investigation: We promptly audit the reported build, telemetry logs, or setting recommendations.
- Public Notation: Corrections are noted directly on the relevant game or hardware page with a clear timestamp and explanation.
- Contacting Editorial: Readers and community members can submit verified telemetry or correction requests via our editorial contact channels.