Polygon has written an opinion piece called 'The Last of Us Part 2 has become a minefield':
It is about, that it became exhausting for a video game critic to do their job around that game, because everything incites a harsh reaction, shitstorms, the developers going into it and so on.
But actually I think the points made are valid even beyond looking at that one game. If we see video games as art (and I certainly do), than we have to accept that good constructive criticism is important to mature as a medium. Professional criticism helped movies to mature into a serious medium that nowadays is widely accepted as a form of art. Video games aren't widely accepted as art. We need a culture of professional criticism, to push the medium forward.
I will cite two sentences that I think are most important. And I cite them out of order, because I think this way it is better:
"It’s not enough that the game is selling well, and that most reviews are positive; you can’t fall out of line with that general consensus, even as a joke, without having to worry about whether or not a publisher will be looking over your shoulder, or if hundreds of fans will blow up your social media."
"If we’re truly taking the game seriously, nuanced and critical conversations aren’t just necessary — they need to happen without fear that you’ll be perceived as a bully or enemy."
This is true, even beyond one single game, but in general.
What do you guys think?