An AI-generated Resident Evil Requiem review briefly made it on Metacritic
Source: Engadget
Metacritic has removed a review of Resident Evil Requiem after discovering it was AI‑generated, according to a report by Kotaku. The review was originally published by the UK gaming site VideoGamer and attributed to a fictitious journalist, “Brian Merrygold.”
The AI‑generated review
The review’s shortcomings are evident upon a quick read of the VideoGamer review. It relies heavily on contrived metaphors and offers little detail beyond what can be gleaned from the game’s trailer. While embargoes can limit pre‑release commentary, seasoned critics usually manage to convey a concrete experience without resorting to vague language—something this piece fails to do.
Suspicious author profile
A user on X highlighted additional red flags: the author’s profile page on VideoGamer (Brian Merrygold) is awkwardly written, and the profile picture’s filename—ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-11_57_34-AM-300x300—suggests it was generated by an AI tool. Kotaku’s investigation found that several other recent bylines at VideoGamer featured AI‑generated avatars, with accounts created around the same time in October 2025.
Metacritic’s response
Metacritic, which aggregates reviews from verified publications to calculate a single score (similar to Rotten Tomatoes), decided to strip the AI‑generated review from its Resident Evil Requiem page. As Marc Doyle, Metacritic’s co‑founder, told Kotaku:
“The RE Requiem review and a handful of other VideoGamer reviews from 2026 have been removed from Metacritic.”
Metacritic also emailed all game sites and publishers it aggregates, reiterating its policy against AI‑generated reviews. Alex Donaldson, founder and publisher of RPG Site, confirmed the outreach in a post on Bluesky.
“Our policy is that we will never include an AI‑generated review on Metacritic, and if we subsequently discover one has been posted we will remove it immediately and sever ties with that publication upon investigation.”
Industry context
The issue extends beyond Metacritic. VideoGamer’s parent company, ClickOut Media, reportedly laid off staff earlier this month to pivot toward AI‑generated content. This shift reflects a broader trend where AI‑produced material proliferates across platforms—from social media to Pinterest. Readers now need to remain vigilant about the authenticity of online reviews.
Update (February 26, 2:58 PM ET)
Added information about Metacritic’s email to publishers regarding its policy on AI‑generated reviews.