GoogleSystemConfirmed
September 2022 product reviews update
Product reviews update that ran concurrently with the September 2022 core update, complicating attribution.
What changed
Google launched a product reviews update on 20 September 2022 while the September core update was still rolling out, and both finished on 26 September. Publishers with review content therefore saw combined effects that were difficult to separate. Google acknowledged the overlap but did not stagger the releases.
Timing
Rollout began 20 September 2022. Google declared it complete on 26 September 2022, 6 days later. Rankings typically remain unstable for the whole rollout window, so measurements taken inside it are not a reliable read on the outcome.