So apparently they had a bit asking players to not share info about the game, but you could technically back out of it without agreeing so legally they can post whatever they want. It feels like a case of "this is legal to do but maybe kinda shitty and valve might be upset". Basically the agreement was informal and not enforceable and the verge just said fuck it. They did get banned afterwards, but I think that and not working with them in the future is all valve can do.

Edit: didn't even require agreement, so honestly it's kinda fair game. I was a bit hostile calling it shitty, I felt like it was a loophole or something but it's more Valve just saying "hey pls don't" and the verge replying "no thanks", and eating the game ban since that's all valve can really do.

[–] Azzu@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

There isn't even an informal agreement. It simply says not to share anything. Not even "by playing this, you agree not to share anything". It's just "please don't share anything" without any action required by your side.

[–] Cyv_@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, gaylord_fartmaster let me know. I thought the message was one of those "scroll down and click agree on this eula" things but its just a pop up box, so it's def not enforceable.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

Nobody is saying it's enforceable. It's just a shitty thing to do when someone shows you something in confidence, asks not to share it, and you publish an entire news article about it. It's just a dick move. Obviously nothing illegal about it.

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If 10,000 people are doing something, it is NOT secret, and journalists must report on it for the general benefit of society.

Valve has their head in the clouds if they thought they could keep an informal secret among the population of a small town.

[–] Cyv_@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This isn't some grand conspiracy it's a closed beta for a video game. It's pretty normal to have an NDA or embargo agreement to get access. It sounds like valve just goofed the implementation. So yeah it's totally legal for them to post it, valve just might avoid giving them early copies in the future.

[–] RangerJosie@sffa.community 1 points 2 months ago

Totally. Verge just lost their access to breaking gaming news. They'll be blacklisted from now on.

That said, I don't know anyone who goes to The Verge for breaking news on gaming.