Y’all ever think about how large games press outlets’ coordinated efforts with publishers to respect embargoes that existed to control marketing campaigns is what got us into the influencer/press kerfuffle in the first place?

Being mad at the influencers is a pretty big waste of time is ultimately my point. Why not be mad at the publishers??? It's way more productive and closer to fixing the perceived problems!

Because entire marketing departments are created to put together the right packages that get folks excited about their products! Influencers leaning into that??? Not sure that's actually the problem.

The problem is the big outlets are influencers, too, steering the bulk of conversation and seeding that sweet sweet SEO juice before outlets that don't "play the game" are able to pull up a chair the table.

Journalists that want to actually report facts and inspire institutional change won't play the game and are then shut out of the early conversation, leaving the successful coverage to outlets and influencers who play the game.

I'm not sure why anyone would spend time being mad at the influencers other than it feels like the closest thing you can shout at.

Truthfully a lot of influencers have honest conversations about a lot of things! And incorporating them into your overall perception of the games industry is a good thing to do!

But this well got poisoned when ad sales departments played fast and loose with editorial ethics at big websites and now this thing is off the rails.

So turn toward the publishers! Let them know every single day that an embargo or a timed exclusive or whatever won't stop you from writing the truth about their company or game or creators.

And support the sites and creators that are honest about those things. That's one of the best things you can do.