Next-Gen Gaming Blog publishes editorial content about video games, upcoming releases, gaming platforms, technical performance and selected gaming hardware for readers in the United Kingdom, the United States and beyond. These principles explain how we select, review, label and update published material.
They apply to editorial content published on nextgengamingblog.com.
What We Publish
NGB may publish several types of material depending on the subject, evidence and usefulness to readers.
News
Timely reporting about game announcements, releases, delays, platforms, trailers, showcases, patches, publishers and developers. News should distinguish what is confirmed from what is still developing.
Explainers
Articles that provide context around a game, platform, technical issue, release strategy, subscription or industry development. An explainer should help readers understand a subject rather than merely repeat a definition.
Analysis
Evidence-based interpretation of announcements, platform strategies, player expectations, technical performance and industry decisions. Analysis should show how its conclusions relate to the available evidence.
Guides
Practical information about release timing, availability, editions, requirements, settings, compatibility and other reader questions. Guides should remain clear about platform, version and regional limitations.
Reviews and Verdicts
Human editorial assessments based on genuine access to the relevant game, build, platform or product.
Rankings and Comparisons
Ordered or category-based assessments using criteria relevant to the subject and purpose of the list.
Interviews and Commentary
Direct interviews, attributable statements and relevant commentary from identifiable sources.
Opinion
Author-led arguments, reactions, predictions and Hype Check assessments. Factual statements in opinion articles remain subject to verification.
NGB does not currently publish sponsored articles or partner content as a regular format.
Topic Selection
Topics may be selected according to:
- relevance to games and gaming technology;
- reader usefulness;
- timeliness;
- public or player interest;
- availability and quality of sources;
- impact on purchasing or platform decisions;
- the need to clarify rumours or technical claims;
- the importance of a release, delay, patch or platform change;
- the availability of meaningful first-hand testing.
Promotional interest alone does not guarantee coverage.
A story may be declined when it falls outside the site’s focus, cannot be supported adequately or would add little beyond material already available to readers.
Source-Based Publishing
NGB prefers identifiable and direct sources wherever practical.
Sources may include:
- official announcements;
- platform storefronts;
- technical documentation;
- patch notes;
- trailers and presentations;
- public company statements;
- direct interviews;
- first-hand human testing;
- public records;
- reputable original reporting;
- clearly identified measurements and datasets.
Promotional claims should not be repeated as established facts without appropriate attribution or evidence.
Source quality is considered in relation to the claim. An official announcement may confirm what a company said, while independent testing may be needed to confirm whether the claim is accurate in practice.
Publishing Workflow
1. Topic Assessment
An editor or contributor determines whether the subject is relevant, sufficiently supported and useful to readers.
2. Research and Source Collection
The available primary and secondary sources are reviewed. Confirmed information, uncertainty and missing context are identified.
3. Drafting
The article is written through a human editorial process. News, analysis, review and opinion should be presented according to their evidence and format.
4. Editorial Review
Where appropriate, an editor reviews clarity, relevance, sourcing, structure, headline accuracy and policy compliance.
5. Source and Link Check
Names, dates, quotations, platforms, prices, links and technical information may be checked against available sources.
6. Sensitive Claim Review
Claims involving allegations, cybersecurity, privacy, harassment, legal disputes, safety or identifiable people receive additional caution.
7. Publication Decision
The final decision may be to publish, revise, delay or decline the article.
Not every article requires the same process or multiple-editor review. The workflow is applied in proportion to the type and significance of the material.
Facts and Editorial Judgement
Factual claims may include release dates, platforms, prices, features, technical measurements, quotations and documented updates.
Editorial judgements may include whether a game is enjoyable, offers good value, appears ready for release or deserves its current level of hype.
Opinion does not remove the obligation to represent supporting facts accurately.
Readers should be able to recognise when an article moves from documented information into interpretation or recommendation.
Content Labels
- News: timely reporting based on confirmed or attributable developments.
- Analysis: interpretation of facts and context.
- Explainer: background and clarification.
- Guide: practical reader information.
- Review: a human assessment based on genuine access or testing.
- Ranking: an ordered or category-based evaluation.
- Opinion: an author’s argument or judgement.
- Interview: direct questions and attributable responses.
- Methodology: an explanation of an evaluation or publishing process.
NGB does not currently use Sponsored or Partner Content as regular editorial formats. If introduced, those labels must be clear.
Labels should help readers understand the nature of the material before interpreting its claims or conclusions.
Reviews and Hands-On Coverage
First-hand claims require genuine human access.
Coverage may identify platform, hardware, version, settings, testing period, pre-release access and significant limitations.
Preview and Early Access coverage should not be presented as a final review.
The amount of access should be represented honestly so that readers can judge the scope of the assessment.
Rankings and Recommendations
Rankings may use numerical criteria or relevant editorial judgement.
Advertisers cannot purchase ranking positions, scores, verdicts or recommendations.
Paid visibility does not determine editorial ranking position.
A ranking should make its scope sufficiently clear so that readers do not mistake a limited editorial selection for a complete list of every eligible product.
Advertising and Commercial Separation
NGB may display advertising, including advertising delivered through Google advertising services.
Commercial relationships do not determine independent editorial conclusions.
The appearance of an advertisement does not mean that the advertiser sponsored or approved the surrounding article.
Editorial and commercial communications use separate contact routes to help preserve this distinction.
Use of AI
NGB may use AI-generated images for selected illustrations and covers.
NGB does not currently use AI for article drafting, translation, source summarisation or news monitoring.
AI must not fabricate sources, quotations, people, events, credentials or first-hand experience.
Human editors remain responsible for publication and for ensuring that generated images are not presented as evidence.
Updates and Corrections
Articles may be updated when release dates, patches, prices, platforms or other material facts change.
Verified factual errors are handled under the Corrections Policy.
Minor grammar and formatting changes may be made without a separate correction notice.
An update should not be described as a correction when the original information was accurate at publication and changed later.
Archiving and Removal
NGB generally preserves published content as part of the editorial record.
Content may be corrected, updated, archived or removed because of substantial factual problems, duplication, privacy concerns, safety, technical migration or loss of editorial value.
Accurate coverage is not normally removed solely because it is unfavourable.
Where an older article remains available, its publication context and date remain relevant to how it should be understood.
Reader Feedback
General feedback:
Editorial questions:
Corrections: