Xbox Says Game Review Access Takes Too Many Steps, Changes Coming Soon

Xbox is preparing changes to the way press and creators access games for review after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 highlighted gaps in coverage on the company’s console.

Xbox chief technology officer Scott Van Vliet addressed the issue publicly, saying the current review process involves too many steps. As Insider Gaming reported, Van Vliet said the goal is to make it easier for press and creators to redeem games and begin playing, with the first updates expected soon.

The concern became visible after Modern Warfare 4 launched without enough Xbox Series X|S critic reviews to produce a platform-specific Metacritic aggregate. Other versions had enough published reviews to receive scores, leaving the Xbox edition absent from a promotional graphic that highlighted the game’s critical reception.

The disparity stood out because Activision is part of Microsoft and Modern Warfare 4 is an Xbox first-party release. Van Vliet’s response keeps the focus on the access workflow rather than the game’s reviews themselves: Xbox is acknowledging friction in the process and says it is building a more direct route for reviewers and content creators.

Microsoft has not detailed exactly what the first changes will include or when the revised process will be fully available. Van Vliet’s statement only confirms that initial updates are coming soon.

What should Xbox prioritize first when it simplifies review access for press and creators?