Deep Dives
Longer reads from our data desk: what thousands of real reactions say that the ratings sites miss.
14 dives · newest October 21, 2026
Early access · Latest
Modern Warfare 4's campaign took its score from 53 to 82. On Friday, everyone else arrives.
October 21, 2026The morning the campaign unlocked, Modern Warfare 4 scored 53 from 208 reactions, most of them news being passed along. Five days later it is 82 from 3,044. Friday brings multiplayer, every platform, and the parts of the game people rate lowest.
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Critics vs the crowdOctober 7, 2026
Critics gave Gears of War: E-Day an 88. The people playing it say 65.
The Xbox Series X Metascore is 88. A week after early access opened, the audience score is 65 from 5,681 reactions, and the 23 points between them come down to how the game runs and what it costs.
Critics vs the crowdSeptember 28, 2026
Critics gave EA Sports FC 27 a 76. The people playing it say 45.
The Metascore is 76. Ten days after early access opened, the audience score is 45 from 1,411 reactions, and the 31 points between them are mostly performance, value and EA itself.
From the archive
Launch week
Aniimo is a 77 after five days. Palworld is an 85 after three years, and the gap is almost all multiplayer.
September 21, 2026
Launch week
Marvel's Wolverine is a 75 from the people who played it. Critics said 6 out of 10, and the hype read agreed with them.
September 18, 2026
Opening weekend
Critics gave Practical Magic 2 a 39%. Verified ticket buyers gave it 92%. The conversation says 65, and climbing.
September 14, 2026
Release week
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an 81 from 3,440 reactions, and it went up every day.
September 11, 2026
Release week
Zero Company is an 80 from 3,153 reactions, and its loudest day didn't move it.
September 3, 2026
Redemption arc
The movie they tried to delete is a 90. The studio that tried is a 9.
August 28, 2026
Score gap
Their audience score says Mutiny is an 85. People actually talking about it say 56.
August 25, 2026
Launch tracker
Critics gave The End of Oak Street 86%. The audience is close behind, and the score keeps climbing.
August 16, 2026
Launch tracker
The new Spider-Man opened huge at the box office. Here is what actual viewers thought.
August 3, 2026
Critics vs the crowd
Critics gave Obsession 94%. The audience says 52%. The gap is the story, not the cast.
July 22, 2026
Critics vs the crowd