UPDATE 1/9/23: With the dust now settled after Starfield’s review embargo, I’d like to clarify a couple of points I’ve seen misunderstood about Digital Foundry’s access to Starfield code. To be clear, Digital Foundry staff received Starfield code (without Eurogamer being involved in that process, as is standard) without agreeing to any specific proviso they could not share that code with Eurogamer. Eurogamer was separately told code was not available by Bethesda, which then stated that Digital Foundry’s code could not be shared.
UPDATE 29/8/23 5.45pm UK: An hour after the publication of this blog, Eurogamer was provided Starfield review code by Bethesda. As stated below, our review will not be completed before embargo – but we can now begin our work to provide you with Eurogamer’s judgement of the game.
ORIGINAL STORY 29/8/23 4.30pm UK: Just two days away from Starfield’s review embargo, Eurogamer is still to receive a copy of the game from Bethesda.
No publisher is obligated to provide a copy of their game to us, but it is important we are able to be transparent with you, our readers, about the delay this will have on the Eurogamer coverage you expect, especially as it has become clear that copies of the game are abundant elsewhere, and in particular in the US.