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1250°

IGN's Review Removed Due to Claims of Plagiarism

At some point, any major journalism site is going to come into some form of issue with plagiarism. Today IGN got that when their video review of Dead Cells was, at points, word for word copies of a Boomstick Gaming YouTube review from a week earlier, and at the other points minor differences in them.

IGN has since removed their review with a notice that they are investigating the issue.

N4G's policy is to remove plagiarized content, and we have. If the source refuses to remove it or doesn't take note of it, we tend to ban them as well. Luckily, IGN has recognizing the issue and, hopefully, is taking the necessary measures to prevent it from happening again as well as recognizing the seriousness of the offense.

You may watch the Boomstick Gaming video detailing the similarities below.

2816d ago
UltraNova2816d ago

Too much plagiarism 6/10: IGN

NewMonday2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

LOL! XD

I never got caught in highschool because I change the whole sentence structures and make deliberate mistakes, also proof read my plagiarism. turns out to be good training for my job as an editor.

Da12RespectA2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

Haha! XD

People never got caught in school because they'd change the whole sentence structures and make deliberate mistakes, also proof read their plagiarism. Turns out to be great training for our jobs as editors.

darthv722816d ago

I watched that last night and clearly IGN used the majority of the same verbiage in the same context as well.

Mr_Skyfish2816d ago Show
RyanShutup2816d ago

"Students seldom get caught due to changes in their sentence structure. If an aspiring writer can make deliberate mistakes this also helps, and in turn will provide great training for future jobs as copy writers."

NewMonday2815d ago

@RyanShutup

that's great work, completely omitting "roof read my plagiarism" is a pro move.

you qualify for a job at IGN, they have an opening now.

thorstein2805d ago

Then why else did you fail my class?

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2805d ago
OB1Biker2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

It's kinda sad they can't even do it in a clever way now. I guess that's what happens when reviewers keep checking others reviews and get over confident.

Crazyglues2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

copy and paste much..... complete fail... dude get's an F / IGN step your game up...

RyanShutup2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

edit: quote the wrong person... ah man!

-Foxtrot2816d ago

"If the source refuses to remove it or doesn't take note of it, we tend to ban them as well"

Lol...this site would never ban IGN

IGN would go mental at Newsboiler

They can't even ban Kotaku

OB1Biker2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

Not a chance.
I've already seen it n twitter the recurring trend of blaming the gamers to deflect the BS.
For this one it's blame the gamers who blame IGN.

Christopher2816d ago

If they refused to acknowledge content theft or plagiarism, yeah, I would. I'm certain the owners would override me, but I have no issues treating them the same as other sites in this regard.

Thomaticus2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

That's a high score. 4/10 imo. I guess you gave extra points for IGN using their own gameplay footage.

UltraNova2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

Nope, its just the fact that IGN's lowest score seems to be around the 7/10 marκ, oh and the fact that they had the balls to post such a blatantly plagiarized review like that ;-)

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2805d ago
TerminalGamer2816d ago

I see similarities, but it's the same game so it might just be coincidence. I wouldn't call it outright plagiarism, though.

Kaze882816d ago

the whole structure of the review and bullet points are the same, only the wording is a little different.

TerminalGamer2816d ago

If the reviewer uses that same structure for all of their reviews, as most reviewers do, then it's coincidence.

You could look at past reviews of the IGN reviewers and see if it matches up if you wanted too.

GottaBjimmyb2816d ago

I agree terminal, could be plagerism, but could also just be that there are only so many ways to describe a game, especially the more specific/niche it is.

Not saying he did not steal the format and wording, just saying maybe he did not do so intentionally and that the differences seem pretty reasonable enough to see it as possibly just a similar writing style and take on the game.

Christopher2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

The similarities are too similar, with even parts of it utilizing exact words. The probability of that happening is extremely low. There are so many words you can use to describe elements, but they both use the exact same ones and in the exact same order.

@below: Terminal, I'm not sure you understand this well enough. If I had you play the game and asked you to describe the game in a few sentences as well as hundreds of other people, the probability that any of you would use the exact same sentence is lower than the chance that you would win two lotteries in a row. There are so many ways to describe every game, but they utilized words that aren't commonly used in general to describe the exact same thing about it.

TerminalGamer2816d ago

You can only describe gaming stuff in so many words. A reviewer can't license a phrase and get mad if someone else uses it.

TerminalGamer2816d ago

Not if both were game writers that play a lot of the same games and you're describing a 2D platformer that is using an old stale format.

Christopher2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

***Not if both were game writers that play a lot of the same games and you're describing a 2D platformer that is using an old stale format.***

He copied things that have nothing to do with the specific game, though. For example, why would both bring up "Most games limit your most useful skills with long cooldown timers or limited mana system" word for word, at the exact same point in the reviews. What are the chances they would both make that exact same reference, at the exact same point in the review, referencing the exact same systems from other games?

"Fights are fast, fluid, responsive and hands down one of the..." is clearly plagiarism and no way in heck would two people come up with that description exactly in the same order and utilizing the 'hands down' in that specific instance as well.

And nothing in this review is old or stale, that's the whole point of the review. It is the opposite of old or stale. So you saying that makes me question if you understand what the reviewers are saying, let alone whether you understand plagiarism and how likely it is to have these number and level of similarities.

UltraNova2816d ago

Terminal,

Watch the video again. Its definitely plagiarism. Don't forget its people who write these reviews and people react to each game/experience differently. The fact that IGN's matches words for words, lows and highs all with the same prologue, main body and conclusion elements/structure is quite telling.

RoseSapphire2816d ago

Terminal, you're grasp of plagiarism is tenuous at best. Turn back.

Damrock2816d ago

Did you even watch the video? Either your a huge IGN fanboy or you work at IGN not to see they ripped of this dudes review.

Structure, Bullet points and even using 99% of the dudes words yet your still defending IGN......

Loadedklip2816d ago

^ this. If you look at the reviews, it is bullet for bullet the same exact review.

It's way too similar. Easy to spot rip off.

As for the game itself, played it on Steam Early Access, it is fantastic.

admiralvic2816d ago

Here is the thing. While I get where you're coming from, as I've seen a fair amount of witch hunting/demonizing -a great example being someone calling attention to IGN saying almost every level having a timed door and pointing out it's actually only around half-, there are too many similar things.

Like, even if we consider structure a coincidence and similar experiences, the two reviews read less like two separate experiences and more like an editor rewrote the other. I mean, they didn't even change the order things were mentioned, nor is there different information found in one of them. This is particularly interesting, since there is a lot of things left out.

These include optional paths, hidden blueprints, daily events, higher difficulties with special doors, unusual mechanics and other things that could've been covered. I'm not saying either are bad, it's just too much of a coincidence that they're basically the same for me to believe it isn't a case of plagiarism. The IGN writer could've added something, honestly anything, to make it seem different or at least change the order and/or swap something out.

Like, removing the time gate point and talking about daily events would've made this more ambiguous, where as this is more like 'do you really think two people out of a small handful played the same game, had similar thoughts, expressed them relatively the same way and exact order independently of one another?'

zodiac9092816d ago

@TerminalGamer What department of IGN do you work for? And how much did they pay you to say this?

Kran2816d ago

Did you even watch the video?

You say you seem similarities but if you'd watched it fully, you'd notice it's almost a carbon copy... heck EVEN SOME OF THE SHOTS THEY USED ARE SIMILAR.

I_am_Batman2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

That's what I thought a minute into the video as well. But with the same bulletpoints appearing in the exact same order and being articulated in a suspiciously similar way it would've to be one hell of a conincidence. Statistically it seems more likely that the reviewer just copied the other review.

To be completely fair though it is obvious that the video only cuts to the very similar parts (of which there are quite a few). It also leaves out some of the parts (probably parts that are different). Unfortunately the ign video has been taken down so we can't compare the full videos to each other.

Thomaticus2816d ago

Send me all your college papers please. I'd like to make some similarities.

Gh05t2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

I was all ready to come to the defense of IGN (not because I like them but because I believe plagiarism has a pretty high bar) Then I watched the video and I dont know how you can defend it. They clearly took one persons ideas and passed them off as their own. He clearly copied words and Idea from the other source and gave no credit. This is clearly plagiarism.

"All of the following are considered plagiarism:
-turning in someone else's work as your own
-copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
-changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
-copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work,
whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)"

(Source: Plagerism.org, lest people accuse me of plagiarizing of the standards for plagiarism. XD)

MegaMohsi2816d ago

Dude are you being serious? If that isn't plagiarism, I don't know what is.

Dragonscale2816d ago (Edited 2816d ago )

@terminal, there must be something in it or ign wouldn't have removed it, some people seem to have a very loose definition of plagiarism. Tbh its lazy journalism on behalf of ign and they got rumbled. Anyhow whats with the defense of ign, didn't realise they had fanboys as well lol.

2816d ago
CorndogBurglar2815d ago

"I see similarities, but it's the same game so it might just be coincidence. I wouldn't call it outright plagiarism, though."

I see similarities, but it's the same game. It might just be a coincidence. I wouldn't accuse him of plagiarism, though.

There. I just plagiarized your sentence and did it by only using similarities. What happened here is no different.

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 2815d ago
AspiringProGenji2816d ago

Colin and Greg were right to leave that place. Ever since that the die has been going downhill

coolbeans2816d ago

Are we really supposed to pretend they were the talent though?

showtimefolks2816d ago

Cool

Yes Colin is awesome but Gregg since leaving has become too big and obnoxious

And the first chance he got to stab Colin in the back instead of standing up for his friend

coolbeans2815d ago (Edited 2815d ago )

@showtime

-Eh...I can admit to being a bigger fan of Colin's more political-oriented work. He does put in a great effort for his Colin's Last Stand gig. But in respect to being a game reviewer (what I was focusing on in 1st comment)? Both have never struck me as being insightful, and both have been a part of the IGN that handed out 9/10's like they were candy throughout the 7th gen--and still continues.

And in regards to the meat of their reviews, the memory of Greg Miller's Dead Space 2 review is still seared into my brain: http://calmdowntom.com/2011... .

I'm just not sure how someone who's been paid for years to review games thought that was a satisfactory end-product. Obviously that's just ONE singular example but my memories of IGN during 7th console gen are filled with disappointment, especially as prominent YouTubers made their way on the scene.

-"And the first chance he got to stab Colin in the back instead of standing up for his friend"

Agreed. That was a crappy move.

2816d ago Replies(4)
generic-user-name2816d ago

Keep an eye out for drama involving Marty Sliva next.

FinalFantasyFanatic2815d ago

Are anyone major news outlets worth their salt these days? I find smaller Youtube reviews to be a better bet and even then I can cross reference with half a dozen or more.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2815d ago
RoseSapphire2816d ago

Hella plagiarized. The IGN reviewer should be fired and I suspect Boomstick is going to gain himself a lot more followers.

OhMyGandhi2816d ago

reviewer should be fired and replaced by Boomstick.

dillydadally2816d ago

Dead Cells is a relatively smallish indie game. Usually these games only get reviewed by interns or non-staff freelancers. My guess is that's what happened here. Either an intern or freelancer sumbitted it, it looked good, so IGN published it. Probably the last time IGN will accept anything from him.

porkChop2816d ago

Filip reviewed it. He's the host of their Nintendo podcast, and is not just some intern or freelancer. To make things worse, this appears to be his first review for IGN since he joined them 9 months ago.

dillydadally2816d ago

@porkChop

Ouch. In that case, dude should know better and is likely to be in big trouble.

Show all comments (151)
220°

We Are Xbox

Dear team,

Xbox has always been different.

We started with a simple idea. Games should bring people together through shared experiences. That led to the first Xbox in 2001, Xbox Live in 2002, and new ways to connect, from friends lists and achievements to parties and play across devices. Today, Xbox reaches over 500 million players around the world, with some of the most important franchises in entertainment.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Itveds6h ago

re-evaluating exclusivity 💀

PS players will need to go back to pretending to dislike Xbox games

pwnmaster30006h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Or meaning since it’s doing so good they might just do everything day 1.

They didnt say re-evaluating their multiplatform approach.
🤣🤣🤣 Xbox is so dead. I know you scared🤣🫵ӿ 97;

6h ago
Eonjay2h ago

Even when the topic is strictly Xbox he can't stop talking about PlayStation. Xbox has basically become the hate of PlayStation... and not much else.

pwnmaster30006h ago

Hurt over video games 🤣🤣

Lmao we all grew and got jobs but apparently you stayed home broke 🤣🤣.
Man I love loyal dogs like you. MS kicked Spit and slapped you around but you still come back on all 4s.

Good little boy 🤣🤣

5h ago
GhostScholar4h ago

My only question is what games are PlayStation gamers gonna play now? They don’t really come out with new games anymore. I’m looking forward to wolverine, but after that then what?

-Foxtrot5h ago

Lmao

There’s no way after everything it’s going back, the damage is done

What you are seeing now is the new management telling what the core fanbase (aka…you) want to hear so they are pumped full of hope and are more likely to invest in the next Xbox console

When Phil took over after the awful Xbox One reveal he did the same thing, he told people what they wanted to hear for damage control.

It’s crazy people are getting suckered into this again.

GhostScholar4h ago

I mean I always buy both systems, so none of this affects me.

CrashMania5h ago

And you'll now go back to again thinking exclusives suddenly matter, that multiplatform is no longer the future, or that revenue from multiplatforms doesn't matter, like all you flop flopping xbox grifters lol.

The whole post just sounds like the previous phil corpo slop talk to me, whole thing reads like a nothing burger lol.

Jin_Sakai4h ago

“re-evaluating exclusivity”

She also said this.

“The model that got us here won’t be the one that takes us forward.”

Profchaos1h ago

I don't know if they have a model anymore it's flipped so many times since the xbox one reveal

TriniOutsider3h ago

It must be miserable being someone like you.

Aloymetal3h ago

There's a bunch just like him but that's what happens when some rely on dreams, hope and wishful thinking. lol

isarai_lee3h ago

"pretending"? Bro gears hasnt broke 1mil on ps5, and starfield hasn't passed 200k, Hellblade 2 was even stated to be a financial disappointment in sales on its own console, let alone ps5. Im not saying people don't like them, but they certainly aren't setting the community on fire, Forza may be different tho

Neonridr2h ago

Forza broke 5 million on PlayStation. So yes. And there's a new one coming soon.

Aloymetal3h ago

Xbawx is ''re-evaluating exclusivity''... Translation: After throwing all sort of crap to the wall to see if something sticks but clearly nothing worked, we, including our lord ''in charge'' Phil came to the conclusion that exclusives indeed do matter so please forget if we ever said otherwise.
Yup, I feel it in my gut, next gen belongs to xbox, PS6 is cooked...

3h ago
1Victor1h ago

Someone can’t sleep after those 5 million forza games PURCHASED by PlayStation owners🤣 🧌 💥

1h ago
Extermin8or3_13m ago

Well with the decreased price of gamespass even with cod off it there is no way it is profitable given the cost of making their 1st party games (not if you actually include that cost in gamespass costs which they typically dont but should) they will just make a loss without the sales on

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 13m ago
Outside_ofthe_Box6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it. They would be turning down immediate money for something that will potentially workout in the long term.

Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box. A lot of their base has moved to PC or jumped to PS. So will be a long road to get back on track.

We have been saying this from day one exclusives are a must if you are going to be selling hardware look at Nintendo and Sony before Jim Ryan. That's the proven formula. You had some that were deluded and blinded by loyalty accepting that multiplat was the future and that MS was merely getting ahead of where the industry was headed, but at least they can finally see the light and agree with what everyone has been saying for a decade+

pwnmaster30005h ago

True, blame it on the rabid fanboys. MS can do no wrong and spinner this multiplatform move. While the actual fans moved on.

I feel like with the new Xbox coming they are hoping to bring back those old fans and then if it goes well. Bring back exclusives.

If the new console is performing like series x and one. Naw they staying multiplatform.

Itveds5h ago

Gonna be a funny world where Xbox games are exclusive and Sony games are not lol

Outside_ofthe_Box3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Funny world where Sony is pro consumer and Xbox is not? At least according to what you loyalists have been saying all this time 🤭

VenomUK3h ago

@itveds For how many years have you been doing this sad stuff? For how many years have you been creating fake accounts to troll? For how many years have you always been cl vnn

fr0sty1h ago

Pathetic incels with nothing better to do than argue over a box... Because they don't have any good games to play on theirs, obviously. If your precious box is so special, why don't you shut the fuck up and go play it?

CrashMania5h ago

I think it's too late, xbox sales were diving even before ABK, they got even worse since then even long before the full multiplatform push. I'd be surprised if they even went back to timed exclusivity at this point, Helix is basically a PC and is going to be expensive, they already struggle to sell cheaper xbox consoles, it will be low volume and they'll have a very small 'console' base to sell to, which has already been conditioned to just play via gamepass anyway.

Neonridr2h ago

I don't see them removing PC from the equation. Considering MS has a heavy enough investment in the PC market, it would be foolish to abandon them. I could see them taking away games from PlayStation or ensuring they are timed exclusives at the very least. Say what you will but if Call of Duty ends up becoming a timed exclusive to Xbox machines, that would hurt PlayStation, don't pretend like those games don't sell millions.

Pyrofire9540m ago

Their lifeline of solely the Xbox consoles is dry. Good-Great games on a 1st party scale can't be made at a loss so willingly - sent to the Xbox to only sell limited copies.
They invested billions scooping up studios and need to start making returns.
Sucks that nearly every company is publicly traded and have to be so shareholder biased but that's how it is.
Their words are strong but it'll take time to see what their actions accomplish. Lowering the cost of Game Pass and taking CoD off of it was a good clear start.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 40m ago
maximusprime_5h ago

Despite all of that, it's clear that Microsoft's Xbox division is broken beyond repair.

4h ago
BeHunted3h ago

PlayStation is currently draining money on flop after flop. It's Sony that needs to re-evaluate their strategy

3h ago
CrashMania57m ago(Edited 55m ago)

Wonder how much money was lost on perfect dark, hellbalde 2, 300 million lost revenue
by putting cod on gamepass. The recent Jason schrier news that Xbox has cancelled dozens of projects, spent 70 billion just to see Xbox sales further collapse and gamepass see little growth.

The fact is this has been PlayStation's most profitable generation and they are making loads of money and selling plenty of consoles and games. While MS won't give you any sales figures or profit numbers for Xbox, says it all really.

shadowT5h ago

"Our presence on PC isn’t strong enough."

Fishy Fingers4h ago

It isnt. But I dont think they mean in 'games', rather, footprint.

They own the OS but as far as gaming is concerned, Steam dominate. I imagine the VAST majority of people who use the Xbox app/launcher are PC gamepass subs. No ones buying their 3rd party PC games through Xbox PC.

Show all comments (55)
90°

Marathon Was One Of The Best-Selling Games In March 2026

Insider Gaming writes: "Marathon was one of the best-selling video games in March 2026 in the United States. On Wednesday, Circna released the best-selling games of the month, and it featured six new releases along with two games returning to the top 20 after previously falling out."

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
92nar1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

92nar1d 6h ago

How’s concord 2, sorry I mean marathon doing? 🤣🤣

Neonridr12h ago

well it's not on Switch / Switch 2.. so their number would be zero.

The game had a decent launch however the userbase numbers are dwindling on Steam.

1Victor12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

“ Is it April fools day again?

The game is dead.

EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”

Does it hurt you to hear a SONY game was BEST selling ?
You gotta let go of those OBCURED feelings 🤷🏿

Neonridr12h ago

I mean the only reason MLB was the best selling title was because it was multi-platform. Likewise with Marathon. Will ring true for MS games. Only Nintendo titles are truly flexing their muscles when they chart as they are only to be found there.

S2Killinit1h ago

So that means we are going to act like it wasn’t best selling?

ChunkyMonk25m ago

It's kinda funny how this Obscure guy lives rent-free in your head. lol

Does Phil also live there?

Outside_ofthe_Box11h ago

Can't wait to see how this is spun negatively. 😜

-Foxtrot5h ago

Yeah sure, yet the player count is no where near what they want for a AAA game with so much money behind it

Why people are trying to spin this game like it’s done overly amazing is baffling to me.

It won’t even be a blip on peoples radars by the end of the year .

S2Killinit1h ago

I really doubt that. I see it getting more and more traction.

ChunkyMonk27m ago

You must me typically wrong cuz those Steam chart numbers (AKA where the game sold the MOST) is less than what Hunt has, and Hunt didn't cost $500 million to make lol

Soy2h ago

So........doing better than most expected, but not enough to make back what it cost.

Show all comments (18)
40°

Webzen Is Trying to Block DragonSword: Awakening's Gacha-Less Steam Release; Developer Responds

The release on Steam of the anime-style gacha-less open-world RPG DragonSword: Awakening is facing a legal challenge from its gacha publisher.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com