Last updated: 3 June 2026
This page explains how QWAYL approaches reviews, editorial coverage, scores, review copies, disclosures, donations, embedded media, and the use of AI tools.
We publish gaming reviews, features, opinions, guides, and commentary. Our aim is to be honest, useful, and clear with readers about how our content is made.
1. Editorial independence
Our articles and reviews are based on our own opinions, experience, research, and judgement.
We do not allow publishers, developers, PR agencies, platform holders, advertisers, sponsors, or donation platforms to control our opinions, scores, recommendations, conclusions, or final wording.
Receiving a review code, press access, preview access, event invite, or other material from a third party does not guarantee coverage, favourable treatment, a positive review, or a specific score.
2. How we access games for review
Games, products, services, or content covered on this site may be accessed in different ways, including:
- purchases made by us;
- personal subscriptions or platform libraries;
- review codes provided by publishers, developers, PR agencies, or platforms;
- preview builds, demos, betas, or early access versions;
- public demos or free-to-play releases;
- games borrowed, gifted, or otherwise made available for coverage.
Where a game or product has been provided to us for review or coverage, we will aim to disclose this clearly in or near the relevant article.
Example disclosure wording may include:
- “Review code provided by the publisher.”
- “Preview access provided by the developer.”
- “Reviewed using a copy purchased by us.”
- “Played through [subscription/platform], paid for by us.”
- “This article is based on a public demo/beta.”
- “No review code was provided.”
3. Review copies and free access
If we receive a free review copy, preview build, beta access, event access, or similar material, this does not affect our editorial judgement.
We will only give the opinion we genuinely hold.
We may choose not to cover something, even if a code or access has been provided. We may also publish criticism, a mixed review, or a negative review where we believe that is fair.
Digital review codes usually cannot be returned after redemption. Where physical items are provided, we may return, keep, donate, give away, or dispose of them depending on the circumstances and any agreed terms.
4. Paid content and sponsorships
We do not accept payment in exchange for positive coverage, review scores, recommendations, rankings, award labels, or editorial conclusions.
If we ever publish sponsored content, paid placements, advertorials, or any other paid promotional material, we will clearly label it as sponsored, paid, advertising, or promotional content.
Sponsored or paid content, if ever used, will be clearly separated from our independent editorial reviews.
5. Affiliate links and adverts
We do not currently run third-party adverts on the website.
We do not currently use affiliate links.
If this changes in the future, we will update this page and clearly disclose affiliate links or commercial relationships where they appear.
If an article contains affiliate links in the future, we will make clear that we may earn a commission if you click a link or make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
6. Donations
Our website may include an optional donation link, such as a link to our Buy Me a Coffee profile.
Donations are entirely optional.
Donating does not buy coverage, influence reviews, affect scores, guarantee a response, create a membership, or give the donor control over editorial content.
Donation payments are handled by the third-party donation platform and its payment providers. We do not directly process card details on this website.
7. Review scores
Where we use scores, ratings, recommendations, or verdicts, they reflect our opinion at the time of publication.
A score is not a mathematical measurement. It is an editorial summary of our experience with the game or subject being reviewed.
When reviewing, we may consider factors such as:
- gameplay;
- design;
- performance;
- accessibility;
- stability;
- writing;
- presentation;
- value;
- originality;
- technical condition;
- online functionality;
- replayability;
- how well the game achieves what it appears to set out to do.
Not every review will weigh these factors equally. Different games aim to do different things, and our reviews reflect that context.
8. Updates, patches, and live-service games
Games can change after release.
Patches, expansions, balance changes, server issues, technical fixes, monetisation changes, delistings, and live-service updates may affect a game after our review is published.
We may update a review, publish a follow-up, add a note, or leave the original article unchanged depending on the situation.
Older reviews should be read in the context of the version of the game available at the time the review was written.
9. Preview coverage
Preview articles are based on limited access, early builds, demos, beta versions, events, presentations, or unfinished versions of a game.
Preview coverage is not a final review.
A preview reflects our impressions of what we played, saw, or were shown at the time. The final release may differ.
Where relevant, we will try to make clear whether coverage is based on a preview build, public demo, hands-off presentation, interview, beta, or early access version.
10. Embargoes
Sometimes review codes, preview access, events, or press materials are provided under embargo.
An embargo may restrict when coverage can be published. It does not give a publisher, developer, platform holder, or PR agency control over our opinion, score, verdict, or final wording.
If an article is based on embargoed access, our view remains our own.
11. Corrections and updates
We try to make our content accurate, clear, and fair.
If we make a factual error, we may correct it. Depending on the nature of the change, we may add an update note or correction note to the article.
We may also update articles to reflect new information, changed release dates, patches, platform changes, pricing changes, or other developments.
Minor spelling, grammar, formatting, or clarity edits may be made without a formal correction note.
12. Images, trailers, and media
Our articles may include relevant game screenshots, official artwork, key art, logos, trailers, and embedded videos.
We use these materials to support review, criticism, commentary, reporting, identification, or discussion.
We do not use third-party images simply to decorate the site.
Embedded trailers and videos may be provided through YouTube or other third-party platforms. Those videos remain under the control of the original uploader and platform.
For more detail, please read our Copyright & Image Use page.
13. Use of AI tools
Our articles, reviews, and editorial opinions are written by people.
We do not use AI tools to write our reviews or editorial copy for us.
We may use AI tools to help check spelling, grammar, formatting, readability, or clarity. The views, opinions, judgement, structure, and final wording remain our own.
14. Conflicts of interest
We aim to avoid conflicts of interest where they could affect, or appear to affect, our editorial judgement.
If there is a relevant relationship, benefit, personal connection, payment, gift, or other circumstance that readers should reasonably know about, we will aim to disclose it.
Examples may include:
- receiving a review code;
- receiving travel, accommodation, event access, or hospitality;
- covering a game made by someone we know personally;
- having a financial, employment, or personal relationship connected to the subject of coverage;
- publishing sponsored or paid content, if we ever do so.
15. Reader trust
We want readers to know when something has been provided, paid for, sponsored, gifted, or otherwise influenced by a third party.
Our general rule is simple: if a reasonable reader might want to know about it before judging the article, we should disclose it.
16. Contact
If you have questions about this Review Policy & Disclosures page, or if you believe we have missed an important disclosure, contact us at:
Qwayl
Email: hello@qwayl.com