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Swen Vincke, chief executive of Larian Studios, has proposed a scheme to rate and score video game critics, likening the idea to a "Metacritic for critics" shortly after attracting controversy for comments about the use of generative AI in his studio's work.
The remarks come in the wake of an earlier exchange regarding generative AI and Larian's high-profile projects, including Baldur's Gate 3 and the Divinity series, that Vincke later walked back. The CEO argued that a system to evaluate reviewers and outlets could add accountability to game coverage and offer players a different way to weigh criticism.
The proposal has provoked debate across the industry, with observers noting potential conflicts around editorial independence and the risks of gamifying critical assessment. Supporters of existing review aggregation platforms caution that any mechanism to score critics would need careful safeguards to prevent manipulation and undue pressure on journalists.
Vincke's suggestion adds to an ongoing conversation about the relationship between developers, critics and audiences, particularly as emergent technologies such as generative AI raise fresh questions about creation, attribution and transparency. The idea of scrutinising critics has surfaced periodically in wider media debates but remains contentious within games journalism.
Push Square first reported the story, noting Vincke's public remarks and the subsequent walk-back on his prior comments related to generative AI and Larian's practices. The discussion highlights the fraught intersection of industry leadership, media coverage and the ways in which both games and criticism are evaluated.
Full coverage: Push Square