Destiny is coming to assault your consoles in just under a week. It’s one of the most hyped games in the history of the medium, and from our time with it thus far it seems to be worthy of its exalted ballyhoo. Some are still unconvinced, and will be waiting for reviews of the game before making any purchasing decisions. Those people might be waiting a while.
It seems that reviewers won’t be getting in to the game much earlier than any of you. We’re still waiting for our copy, which we suspect will come after release in the US. That’s why we’ve ordered a digital copy of the thing to expedite our review. Even larger outlets will be waiting.
Polygon’s confirmed the late arrival of review copies as well.
Hello friends. Unfortunately, I have some sub-optimal news: Destiny developer Bungie and publisher Activision have decided to ship out review copies for their game for arrival on Monday, Sept. 8. As the game launches on Sept. 9, there is no practical way for us to have a Destiny review in time for its launch at midnight on the 9th in your territory of choice.
Bungie has since confirmed that review copies will be in reviewers hands later this week – but as servers won’t be live until Monday anyway, it’s all moot.
Usually, when a game’s reviews are out late, it’s cause for concern; publishers and marketing people aren’t quite convinced that the game’s any good, and want to quell negative publicity before it even starts. I don’t think that’s the case here; with Activision’s huge financial push, I’m sure they wouldn’t allow the game to be released in a poor state.
Bungie themselves say that the game needs to be played in a real-world environment before reviews can be done.
We’ll talk more about this in the update, but we did explore simulating a vibrant pre-launch population by giving early access to some fictive group, employing hired resources, and/or raising an army of sentient, killer robots. Ultimately, given that most reviewers are going to need to spend time with Destiny in the real world, under real conditions, we opted to have reviewers play alongside real players.
There you have it. You’ll know if the full game is any good right around the same time we do. Does the lack of early reviews put you off at all, or are you still clutching your pre-orders close to your chests?
Last Updated: September 3, 2014
Admiral Chief Assassin
September 3, 2014 at 10:32
Surely it can’t be a cock-up, it seems fine thus far?
Or are they fearing errors that combines 3 times 10 and then the numbers of days in a week added to it?
Kensei Seraph
September 3, 2014 at 10:41
We already know that that error and the ID-10t errors will occur during, after and before the game goes live.
Kensei Seraph
September 3, 2014 at 10:39
After they made the beta open to all players across all platforms I think delaying the reviewer copies isn’t an issue.
Jonah Cash
September 3, 2014 at 10:52
Hahaha!! No they are spot one with this!! The point of the game is to play alone and to play alongside other people and even when you play alone to see other random people!! So this doesn’t bother me at all!! My pre order is ready and I am counting the days….
I played the Alpha and it was great, then played the Beta and it was bigger and still great… So by that logic the full game will be huge and it will also be great 🙂
Alex PsyChoPanthis
September 3, 2014 at 10:56
Reviews be damned… I’ve already bought my copy and am just waiting for Tuesday so i can pick it up
Rinceable
September 3, 2014 at 11:00
I don’t fear anything with this news. It makes sense, though not really what we want.
Jonah Cash
September 3, 2014 at 11:03
If you guys had a review copy and the servers went up, I would break in at either your office, home or BT games warehouse to steel a copy and get in on the action…. I would even start a blog and say I am a legitimate reviewer!!! Hahahaha… Jonah’s blog stardate 20.14 on planet Mars, I have just taken a Warlock out back and spanked him and his friends for trying to capture my flag….
The Kenn
September 3, 2014 at 11:27
yeah, still getting it. If it as good as the beta (and it cant be worse) it’s gonna kick some serious ass. should I take next Tuesday off…..
Jaded_Reprobate
September 3, 2014 at 11:27
i’m glad about this… my jealous streak won’t be going full tilt green knowing that you guys get to play the game before me….
there is nothing worse than turning on my console and seeing 1 of your tags online playing a game that isn’t released yet….
Jonah Cash
September 3, 2014 at 11:36
Yes exactly this!!! I also get green with jealousy!! Hahahahaha
FoxOneZA
September 3, 2014 at 11:46
Let the gamer’s decide for themselves!*
The power is in your hands!*
There’s no stopping you now from playing!* **
*subject to server load and availability
**see miniscule print below…
Nikola
September 3, 2014 at 12:30
Not really worried about reviews most us have played the Alpha and Beta and enjoyed the game, it makes sense to review it as an MMO,even though they say it is not an MMO raid lockout,farming loot each week big co-op PVE? yeah sure nothing like an MMO. It will take a while to level up and go through the content plus you will need teammates to review raids strikes and so on it is not a single player game…Oh and I can’t fucking wait for this game!!!
Rock789
September 3, 2014 at 12:37
Does it put me off this game? Not in the least! Played both the Alpha and Beta. Loved every second of it! And cannot wait to get stuck in next week. Only thing is, how am I going to accommodate 2 current gaming addictions – Diablo 3 ROS and Destiny?!
Guest
September 3, 2014 at 15:56
In Bungie We Trust…
CAE9872
September 3, 2014 at 18:08
It’s Bungie in my opinion and everything they have done in the past I have mostly loved…and yes the mostly is because of Halo 2!!!!