adminThe Metacritic Resident Evil Requiem review controversy has raised questions about how review aggregators verify publications and authors. Metacritic removed a review that had been published by Videogamer after reports cast doubt on the listed writer’s identity and whether the piece had been generated using AI. The allegations have not, on their own, established who wrote the review.
Image credit: Capcom
Why the Metacritic Resident Evil Requiem review was removed
The 543-word review credited an author named Brian Merrygold, described as an experienced analyst in iGaming and sports betting. Reports noted that no apparent professional or personal online history for Merrygold could be found before October 2025. The filename associated with his profile photograph also reportedly included the words “ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025,” prompting further questions about whether the author was genuine.
These details were presented as indicators that warranted scrutiny, rather than conclusive proof about the review’s authorship. When evaluating similar claims, it is useful to distinguish between information that has been independently verified and concerns or allegations reported by others.
Metacritic’s policy on AI-generated reviews
Metacritic co-founder Marc Doyle told GamesIndustry.biz that the Resident Evil Requiem review and several other Videogamer reviews from 2026 had been removed from the aggregator. Doyle said Metacritic checks publications before adding them to its critic roster, but that changes in ownership or staff can create opportunities for problems such as plagiarism, content theft, fraud, or AI-generated reviews.
He also stated that Metacritic does not permit AI-generated critic reviews. If the platform discovers one has been posted, its policy is to remove it and suspend its relationship with the publication indefinitely while it investigates. For readers, this distinction matters: removal signals that the platform is responding to a concern, but it does not by itself disclose every detail of an ongoing review or investigation.
Broader concerns about publication staffing
A former Videogamer writer reportedly said that most of the outlet’s staff had been dismissed the previous week and replaced by AI. The report also raised questions about other listed contributors, some of whom reportedly had little or no discoverable publishing history before October 2025 despite claiming years of experience in games and esports media.
Additional concerns included an editor profile linking to an incorrect Videogamer account on X and a following list containing accounts that were also suspected of being AI-generated. Separately, the former co-founder of Esports News UK, who left in 2025, alleged that some authors at that publication were fabricated. These remain attributed claims, not findings established in the information available here.
What readers should take away
The Metacritic Resident Evil Requiem review case highlights why transparent bylines, verifiable author histories, and clear editorial oversight are important for game reviews. Readers can check whether an author has a consistent publication record, compare coverage across established outlets, and treat unsupported claims cautiously. Metacritic’s removal of the review reflects its stated policy, while the wider allegations call for careful verification as more information becomes available.
