Frequently Asked Questions
How often is data updated?
Verdicts update automatically as new data comes in. Recent releases are re-checked several times a day, while older games are revisited less often. You don't need to refresh anything — when reviews, patches, or critic scores change, the verdict will update on its own.
What data sources do you use?
- IGDB (Twitch) — game metadata, release dates, platform info, cover art
- Steam Web API — review sentiment (recent vs. all-time), patch/news history
- IGDB critic aggregate — professional critic consensus and critic vote volume
- IsThereAnyDeal — pricing, historical lows, and store links
All API responses are validated with strict schemas. Bad data is discarded, never silently propagated.
Why does my favorite game show "Avoid"?
"Avoid" is not a judgment on artistic quality. It reflects the current consumer value: technical state, review sentiment, and patch activity at this point in time. A game can move from "Avoid" to "Buy" after patches improve it. The verdict updates automatically.
What is review bombing detection?
If the difference between Steam's recent score and all-time score exceeds 30 points, we flag the game with a "Review Bombing Detected" warning on its detail page. The underlying score is not auto-corrected — we surface the flag and let you decide.
Which platforms are tracked?
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. A game must be released on at least one of these platforms to appear in Game Signal.