How We Review & Dexerto’s Editorial Standards

At Dexerto, we uphold the highest journalistic standards in our coverage of gaming culture. Our policies ensure that all content is accurate, transparent, and independent across all of our content types.

Reviews & Scoring Policy

You can trust Dexerto reviews

At Dexerto, we prioritize expertise, hands-on experience, and editorial independence to deliver trustworthy reviews. Every review is assigned to a specialist writer who thoroughly tests the game, product, or content, capturing original screenshots, photographs, and firsthand insights before forming an opinion.

Our 5-point scoring system reflects the experience at the time of review, free from external influence. While we prioritize timely coverage, accuracy and depth come first, ensuring fair, reliable, and well-informed recommendations for our audience.

The review process is overseen by our senior management team across Gaming, TV & Movies, and Entertainment.

Review scoring explained

Scoring System – We rate video games, TV, movies, and products on a 5-point scale. Each score is assigned a label:
- 1/5 = Awful
- 2/5 = Poor
- 3/5 = OK
- 4/5 = Great
- 5/5 = Outstanding

Review policies

Unbiased Reviews – Our reviews and scores are never influenced by publishers, advertisers, or future product access.
Review Assignments – Editors assign reviews to experienced writers with the most expertise in the subject, granting them access to a product, video game, movie or show to produce the review.
Review Methodology – Scores reflect the quality and user experience at the time of review, without adjustments for later updates or price changes.
Review Process – Editors verify factual accuracy, but the reviewer’s expert opinion is final.
Live Service & Ongoing Games – We do not update scores for minor patches but may review major seasonal updates if they significantly alter the game. On occasion, we will produce a separate review.

NDA & Embargo policies

Dexerto upholds strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and embargo policies to ensure timely, accurate, and independent coverage. These agreements between Dexerto and a company specify that we will not reveal certain information about a product before a certain date, and they enable us to prepare content in advance.

NDAs & Early Access – We occasionally sign NDAs that grant early access to products, allowing us to prepare in-depth reviews, breaking news, and expert guides ahead of public release.
Global Embargo Standards – We do not sign NDAs that lift after a product has launched in another territory, ensuring fair access to information for our audience.
Editorial Independence – While NDAs and embargoes provide early access, they never influence our reviews, opinions, or scoring. Our assessments remain honest and unbiased, regardless of exclusivity.

These policies ensure that Dexerto delivers expert coverage without compromising credibility or transparency.

News & Reporting Standards

Fact-Checking & Verification – All news is independently verified before publication.
Anonymous Sources – Used only when credibility is confirmed by editorial staff.
Rumors & Leaks – We cover industry leaks and rumors from reliable sources and seek verification from involved parties.
Content Updates – Developing stories are updated as new information becomes available.

Ethical Sourcing & Attribution

Credible Sources – Information is verified using multiple sources whenever possible.
Proper Attribution – When reporting on external information, we credit and link to the original source. Images are credited to their creator or publisher.
Anonymous Sources – We protect the identities of anonymous sources, but their credibility must be verified by editorial staff.
Company Comments – Before publishing non-public information, we seek comment from the involved parties.
Rumors & Leaks – We report on leaks only from reliable sources and attempt to verify or get a response from the companies involved.

Corrections & Transparency

Error Corrections – Factual errors are corrected, sometimes with an editor’s note explaining the update.
Significant Changes – If an error alters the meaning of an article, a correction is noted near the beginning of the piece.
Content Removal – Articles are rarely removed. When necessary for legal reasons, an editor’s note explains why.

Plagiarism & AI Usage Policy

Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism – Writers must properly source and fairly attribute information. Any plagiarism results in immediate corrective action.
No AI-Generated Articles – All Dexerto content is created, written, and edited by real journalists. AI tools are not used to generate entire articles.

Advertising & Sponsorship Transparency

Affiliate Disclosure – Some articles include retail links that generate commission for Dexerto. This never influences editorial content.
Sponsored Content – Clearly marked as sponsored, and also as either:
- Advertisement Feature – Paid content created with and approved by a sponsor.
- Supported Editorial – Independently written, funded content with no sponsor approval or influence.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Writers with close personal or professional ties to a company or product do not cover related stories.
Editorial independence is always maintained, regardless of industry relationships.

For correction requests or editorial inquiries, contact press@dexerto.com.

Learn more About Us here.