GameThrum’s editorial conclusions are controlled by its editorial team. Access, relationships, requests, or pressure from a developer, publisher, platform, or community do not determine a verdict.
Review access
When relevant, a review discloses how access was obtained: retail purchase, public demo, press key, subscription library, or other legitimate access. Early or provided access does not guarantee coverage, timing, wording, score, or a positive result.
No approval rights
A subject may correct factual details or provide evidence. It may not approve our opinion, rewrite the article, select the verdict, or suppress a supported criticism as a condition of coverage. Embargoes may set a publication time; they do not override our standards.
Conflicts of interest
Anyone researching, testing, writing, or editing must disclose relationships or interests that could reasonably affect—or appear to affect—the work. Examples include recent employment, close personal relationships, meaningful financial interests, substantial gifts, credited work on the game, or participation in its development or marketing. The editor then reassigns the work, adds an appropriate disclosure, or declines coverage.
Gifts, travel, and events
We do not treat gifts or hospitality as editorial evidence. Unavoidable low-value event materials do not purchase favorable coverage. Material travel, accommodation, or access arrangements relevant to a page must be disclosed or the assignment declined under the editor’s conflict review.
Community conduct
We observe community spaces to find questions, not to manipulate discussion. Staff do not pose as ordinary players to promote GameThrum, coordinate votes, mass-message users, automate deceptive engagement, or solicit private information. Direct outreach identifies GameThrum and requires editorial approval.
Confidentiality and embargoes
We honor agreed embargoes and protect legitimate confidential material. We do not agree to conceal facts that would make coverage materially misleading. Leaks, private builds, and personal data require heightened source, rights, and safety review.
Independence record
The internal assignment record preserves access type, disclosures, outreach, restrictions, and approvals. If a conflict becomes known after publication, we review the page and add a disclosure, correction, reassignment, or retraction as appropriate.