There?s a  pattern surrounding the impending release of major games and you might only notice it if you follow a bunch of game journalists on social media. Secretive screenshots without context, allusions to playing things that they can?t talk about, and a whole lot of wink-wink-, nudge-nudgery that tends to make others jealous. Then a deluge of early reviews hit the web once the embargo is over?usually at some inane time like 3 am?and everyone forgets all about it until the next game. It?s happening again today as the Ghost of Tsushima review embargo is announced ahead of its July 17 release date, outlets receive their early review copies, and people post seemingly-smug pictures of the game?s start menu screen to confirm they are playing it early. The cycle starts anew and folks get snippy. Well, I?m here to tell you: When it comes to early coverage, embargoes, and Ghost of Tsushima, it?s just a start screen and nothing more.
I have it.
I?m playing it.
I?m reviewing it.
Tuesday, July 14th at 7 a.m. PT.#GhostofTsushima #GameProvidedByPlayStation pic.twitter.com/ehTpT4sipI
? Greg Miller (@GameOverGreggy) June 30, 2020

If you?re wondering why this is all note-worthy it?s because of the perceived line that separates fans and game journalists. Being a hobbyist industry, gaming has long suffered the problem that, in reality, there isn?t any special set of skills required to cover video games. This was far more debatable back in the early magazine era of games coverage in the ...