How-To Geek Ethics Policy
Our entertainment brands do not publish personal attacks against people and companies in the industries we cover, or against colleagues in our industry. We stress objectivity in reporting topics of a sensitive nature.
We abide by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, meaning all video game reviews must state which platform game was played on and who provided copy (if a copy was provided). Regional or platform-specific considerations are also noted
Note: Disclaimers and disclosures are clear and conspicuous.
On games coverage, reviewers are always separated from previewers/interviewers (i.e. if a writer is invited to a studio visit, they will not review that game). We strive to keep editorial/criticism objective and separate from studios access/relationships and our monetization teams.
Giving Credit and Acquiring Written Permission
Unless assets or news (press release) come from official studio source or their PR affiliates, we always provide credit to original sources. We believe it is our responsibility to contribute to the online publishing ecosystem and best journalism practices.
For images, non-official art, etc. we credit the artist and seek to contact them as well for permission to use their work.
Spoiler Considerations
For previews and reviews, we always honor embargoes and save spoilers for when we have permission to post - or after release. If these are major or sensitive spoilers, we keep them out of headlines and images until a sufficient amount of time has passed to ensure readers are not exposed to any info they are not actively seeking out.
We’re not here to ruin the experience of entertainment for our readers, but to serve those looking for this content. If there are spoilers and publication will occur during the release window, we will always include a spoiler warning at the top of the article.
For corrections or update requests, please contact editorial@howtogeek.com