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Editorial Policy

VG247 is dedicated to all things gaming, publishing quality news, criticism and analysis of video games and the broader culture surrounding them in written, video, and audio form.

We think the business of reporting on video games should be fun, just like video games themselves are. However, there are of course serious matters of professionalism we have to keep in mind. On this page, we lay out the key tenets of our site Editorial Policy as simply as possible.

If you ever feel we haven't upheld these standards, reach out and tell us.

Editorial Content

  • We endeavor to ensure that all reporting and features on VG247 are factually correct. Where errors occur, we correct them with clearly marked updates.
  • We endeavor to give all those companies and individuals an article is about the opportunity to comment on the story's subject matter.
  • When we report on rumors, we only do so if we believe they have a basis in reality.
  • When VG247 reports or confirms rumors with our own sources, information will be at least double-sourced and verified to the best of our ability. We will always protect the identities of anonymous sources, and we never pay sources for information.
  • When citing information from other sources, they are always prominently credited and linked.
  • In many cases, VG247 will sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with video game developers and publishers in order to obtain early access to games or information. We only do this if we feel the NDA is fair, and does not compromise our work.
  • VG247 often receives free copies of games, hardware, and peripherals in order to cover and review them. Any time a product was received for free for this purpose, that fact will be noted in a disclaimer appended to the content in question.
  • Similarly, VG247 may travel to events in order to see or experience a new game, or to visit a studio to meet its creators. VG247 will accept a publisher paying for travel and accommodation to such events, but will not accept anything further. In all instances, this will be clearly disclosed in the resulting coverage.
  • Members of our editorial team will not accept gifts (items not required to do our jobs) in excess of $50 in value.
  • We never allow any external force such as publishers or developers to adjust or have ‘sign off' on our editorial copy. Words on VG247 are our own, reflecting our own thoughts. See Advertising and Sponsored Content for our policy on those.
  • As part of our process, the VG247 team will naturally build relationships with industry professionals including representatives from game developers and publishers. We conduct these relationships in a professional manner, never allowing them to hold any sway over our content.
  • If there is ever a risk of a conflict of interest (previous employment, personal association), the contributor in question will be barred from covering games of the publisher in question for at least two years and reassessed at that point.

Ownership

VG247 has a large parent company, and there are a few elements we should point out regarding that:

  • VG247 is owned by Gamer Network Ltd, which runs a variety of games media outlets including Eurogamer, VG247, and others. Each brand operates separately, and their values do not reflect and may not match those of VG247.

Advertising and Sponsored Content

Finally, advertising is what keeps us eating and in business. Here's what you need to know about editorial and advertising, including sponsored content:

  • VG247's advertising is handled by a separate department to editorial entirely. The editorial team has no knowledge or oversight of ongoing advertising deals. VG247 is never influenced by advertising or commercial concerns.
  • The advertisements on VG247 are designed to be fair and as unobtrusive as possible. If you encounter an advertisement that feels inappropriate in content or execution, please contact us to let us know. Furthermore, users who wish to have an ad-free experience can sign up for a VG247 subscription.
  • Sometimes, articles will feature links to retail stores. Often, Gamer Network Ltd will receive a cash commission on any purchases made after clicking such a link. While editorial staff may sometimes insert these links, they have no knowledge or oversight of the affiliate sales business.
  • VG247 occasionally features ‘sponsored content', articles that are posted to VG247 as part of a wider advertising campaign as sold by the commercial team. This will be clearly labeled as sponsored content. The editorial team also has final sign-off on the text of sponsored articles to ensure they do not clash with our values. At the top of a sponsored article we always make it clear who funded the content.

In-game promo codes

At VG247, we seek out in-game promo codes to help get readers free stuff in them. This could be from free boosts in Pokemon Unite to free coins in a Roblox game. To make sure that these pages are always up-to-date, we test every one of these codes to make sure they work and do regular sweeps to remove expired promo codes. We have no affiliation with these promo codes and do not make any direct revenue from readers using them.

Editorial Policy last updated on 5th September 2024