IGN Outlines How its Editorial Department Will Cover Humble Bundle Services [Update]
Update with statement from IGN's co-founder and CCO.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
Update:USGamer has now received a new statement from IGN co-founder and Chief Content Officer Peer Schneider that clarifies IGN's Mitch Galbraith's earlier statement. Schneider writes,
To get more specific, we're going to use a two-pronged approach to ensuring editorial integrity when it comes to Humble Bundle. First, we will keep a rigid separation between IGN's editorial team and the Humble Bundle team. Second, we will provide full disclosure whenever IGN creates content about a game, bundle, or subscription created by or funded by Humble Bundle. This is the same effective approach we already use when IGN creates content about the products sold by our advertisers and commerce partners.
We've updated the rest of the story to reflect Schneider's new statement.
Today, Humble Bundle announced its acquisition by media company IGN. In our coverage of the news we raised some questions regarding the potential implications this deal has on IGN and Humble's business relationship since IGN has covered games published by Humble. IGN has now issued a follow-up statement regarding its editorial plans for Humble.
In a statement to USGamer from IGN, Executive Vice President and General Manager Mitch Galbraith says, "Editorial integrity is something we take very seriously at IGN, and I am confident that we will strike the right balance when it comes to our coverage of Humble Bundle and the games they sell. Our readers and customers have always come first - and that won't change."
Galbraith's statement didn't actually outline any safeguards on IGN's editorial department when it comes to Humble Bundle's video game offerings but a later statement from IGN co-founder Peer Schneider outlined the company's "two-pronged approach." Schneider reaffirmed IGN and Humble's commitment to keep Humble's business operations separate IGN's editorial team. IGN will also disclose whenever IGN produces content about any of Humble's services including games, bundles, or subscriptions "created by or funded by Humble Bundle."
It's still too early to see how this new relationship looks in practice. IGN and Humble Bundle can maintain a separate working relationship, but it remains to be seen how consumers will respond to the working relationship moving forward.