What does it say about reviews that Destiny shipped $500m without them?

Destiny is already a huge commercial success, yet hardly any major specialist games site has published its review of the game.

That’s because, as explained by Bungie prior to launch, copies weren’t distributed amongst the press until the day before release as it was concerned that accessing it without the community up and running would lead to disproportionately negative assessments.

So what, if anything does it say about the role played by the specialist press if a game can enjoy a record-breaking release with seemingly little concern from the buying public about paying out without the reassurance of a critical nod?

Has marketing become more important than reviews? Has the press hyped the game to such a degree over such a period that the actual final assessment has been rendered largely meaningless? Did Bungie’s pedigree mean that people had already made a purchasing decision?

Were buyers simply more interested in the many live streams that went live on the afternoon before release and based their decisions on that? Had everyone already pre-ordered so as to secure that bonus content?

We asked the question on Twitter and here’s the feedback we received:

@BenParfitt a) some made their mind up based on the beta, b) some made their mind up based pre-order trinkets and c) some based on consoles.

— Andrew (@Optimaximal) September 11, 2014

@BenParfitt For the big Triple A franchised like CoD, GTA, etc, Specialist media has no impact. Makes me wonder why they heavily cover them

— Simon Callaghan (@JohnnyAtom) September 11, 2014

https://twitter.com/IndoorHeroes/status/510061818128371712

@BenParfitt reviews have been dead for a few years now – at least for those with marketing budgets. Other than discussion-points, of course.

— Pete Chapman ☯️ (@itspetechapman) September 11, 2014

https://twitter.com/IndoorHeroes/status/510062038291595264

@BenParfitt That sales are made off the back of previews and hype? Reviews either confirm the hype or are deemed to be wrong.

— Brian Ashford (@BrianBloodaxe) September 11, 2014

@BenParfitt that they are necessary to point out the great games that have no marketing!

— Geekology #SaveStarTrekProdigy #StarTrekLegacy (@GeekologyUK) September 11, 2014

https://twitter.com/lanerobertlane/status/510062535371157504

@BenParfitt Think it says more about the importance of the open beta, which many found after being told of its existence by the press

— Chris Scullion (@scully1888) September 11, 2014

@BenParfitt It says the specialist press have been hyping this game for over 18 months almost solidly making their own reviews pointless?

— Graeme Taylor (@EndoNoob) September 11, 2014

UPDATE: And here are a few more, including one from DayZ’s Dean ‘Rocket’ Hall:

@MCVonline what does it say? What most of us have known for a long time 🙂

— Dean Hall (@rocket2guns) September 11, 2014

@MCVonline They hype machine works. How many articles has MCV written about Destiny leading up to it?

— Dits (@DitsHavoc) September 11, 2014

@ninjasinflames @MCVonline Pre-order culture is responsible. Reviews are for long terms sales, but most AAA games have a marketing machine~

— Royal Insomniac (@Valhalla_Nights) September 11, 2014

Hype, beta, streams > reviews. RT @MCVonline What does it say about reviews that Destiny shipped $500m without them?

— Gaming News Spoilers (@VGNewsSpoilers) September 11, 2014