Last Updated: September 26, 2026
At GameShoot (https://gameshoot.xyz), an independently operated digital gaming publication founded and managed by Manny, our primary responsibility is to provide readers with accurate, honest, and reproducible gaming journalism. These Editorial Guidelines establish the strict standards under which all content is researched, written, verified, and published.
1. Editorial Independence & Ethics
- Editorial Integrity: All coverage decisions are made solely based on player interest, gameplay merit, and informational value. Commercial partnerships, advertising relationships, and affiliate links have zero influence on our ratings, guides, or critiques.
- No Paid Reviews or Sponsored Placement: We strictly prohibit paid reviews, paid guide placements, or commercial bias in editorial content.
- Disclosure of Review Copies & Codes: If a game developer or publisher provides an early review code or access key, a prominent disclosure is placed at the top of the article. Such provisions never guarantee positive coverage.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy & Human Accountability
We believe in complete transparency regarding the use of modern computational tools:
- The Human Accountability Standard: Every article, guide, analysis, and tier list published on GameShoot is personally researched, written, fact-checked, and approved by a named human writer and editor (Manny).
- Acceptable AI Assistance: We may use AI tools for preliminary data organization, grammar proofreading, code snippet validation, or HTML table structuring—strictly as productivity aids, similar to a dictionary or IDE linter.
- Strict Prohibitions on AI Generation:
- We strictly forbid publishing automated, unedited AI-generated articles.
- We strictly forbid AI-generated hallucinations: every benchmark number, patch version, price, and gameplay stat must be verified against primary developer documentation or real player observation.
- We strictly forbid fabricated first-hand experience: no article may claim that a game was played, tested, or benchmarked unless physically verified.
3. The 5-Pass Editorial Verification Pipeline
Before any guide or technical article goes live on GameShoot, it passes through our rigorous 5-Pass Editorial Pipeline:
- Pass 1: Sourcing & Claim Classification — Every factual claim is categorized according to our Source Confidence Hierarchy (Levels A to E). Unverified rumors are explicitly identified as speculation.
- Pass 2: Data & Patch Note Audit — Hardware settings, frame rates, patch numbers, release dates, and weapon statistics are cross-checked against primary developer documentation.
- Pass 3: Brand Safety & Tone Neutrality — Fictional combat terminology is properly anchored with in-game entities (NPCs, quests, loadouts) to ensure clean context and professional prose.
- Pass 4: Readability & Scannability Audit — Paragraphs are kept concise for mobile readability; data tables are verified for responsive display across all screen sizes.
- Pass 5: Editorial Sign-Off — Final verification of publication timestamps, source links, and factual accuracy before pushing live.
4. The 5-Level Source Confidence Hierarchy
To prevent spreading misinformation, GameShoot classifies all factual assertions into five clear evidentiary tiers:
- Level A (Official Primary): Official developer patch notes, studio press releases, SEC/regulatory filings, direct statements from verified game directors. Treated as confirmed fact.
- Level B (Primary Observation): Direct gameplay recordings, hands-on settings verification, and first-hand testing notes. Treated as empirical finding.
- Level C (Reputable Secondary Outlets): Investigative reporting from established technical or news outlets (such as Digital Foundry, Bloomberg, or Reuters). Evaluated claim-by-claim with explicit attribution, primary cross-verification, and epistemic hedging where independent confirmation is pending.
- Level D (Community Telemetry): Aggregate player reports from verified community forums (r/SteamDeck, r/Valorant), Steam discussion boards, and bug trackers. Reported with epistemic hedges (‘Widespread player reports suggest…’).
- Level E (Unverified Rumors & Leaks): Anonymous forum posts, datamined file strings, unconfirmed social media claims. Strictly labeled as speculative rumor with clear counter-evidence caveats.
5. Corrections & Fact-Checking Policy
Accuracy is our highest priority, but errors occasionally occur. When an inaccuracy is identified, we act swiftly and transparently:
- Correction Notices: Substantive factual errors are corrected directly within the article, accompanied by a prominent Correction Notice at the top or bottom of the page noting what was changed, why, and the timestamp of the update.
- Typographical & Minor Fixes: Minor typographical corrections that do not alter factual understanding may be updated silently.
- Reader Error Reporting: If you identify a factual error, broken link, or outdated information in any GameShoot article, please email
[email protected]. We aim to review the claim, verify primary sources, and publish any necessary update within 24–48 business hours.
6. Sourcing, Quotes & Plagiarism Policy
- Original Value Mandate: GameShoot does not rewrite or aggregate existing articles without adding substantive original analysis, gameplay insight, or verified context.
- Attribution & Linking: When referencing another outlet’s reporting or scoop, we provide explicit credit and a direct link to the primary source.
- Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism: Plagiarism, content scraping, or passing off another author’s work as our own is strictly prohibited.
Contact the Editorial Desk
For pitches, correction requests, or questions regarding our guidelines:
- Publisher & Editor: Manny (
[email protected]) - Corrections Desk:
[email protected] - General Desk:
[email protected] - Location: GameShoot, Patna, Bihar, India