GTA 6 Publisher Take Two Interactive has expressed that review bombing can significantly impact revenue for games negatively. Review bombing is when large numbers of negative reviews are posted in a short period, often in response to specific issues or controversies unrelated to the game’s actual quality.
In recent years, players have taken to review bomb games that they are not satisfied with. They would even go as far as to do it if the game’s title is involved in another way, such as in the case with Monster Hunter: World when the Monster Hunter movie came out in 2020.
When GTA 5 was released on modern consoles, the review bombing it received was extremely bad to the point that it reached a 2.8 user score on PS5 and a 3.0 user score on the Xbox Series X|S. There wasn’t much content that was added into the next-gen besides updated graphics and performance which made many players frustrated.
Large volumes of negative reviews can create a false impression of the game’s quality. This distortion can influence potential buyers unfairly and impact the game’s reputation. Moreover, an artificially low rating can affect sales and player interest, which can be particularly detrimental for new releases trying to establish themselves in a competitive market.
The publisher emphasized the importance of providing honest and constructive feedback rather than participating in review bombing. They encouraged players to engage in meaningful dialogue about their experiences and issues, which can lead to better outcomes for both developers and the gaming community.
While we’re on the topic of GTA 6, a former Grand Theft Auto developer has shared their thoughts on the upcoming game.