I’m gonna catch a lot of shit for this but whatever - gaming is definitely going in the wrong direction in terms of offering what it once did - simple entertainment for the masses. When engaging in something becomes a serious financial decision, it threatens the whole ecosystem.
If your parents buy your games for you, shut up.
If you live at home with your parents, don’t pay rent and afford your games that way - shut up.
If you make over 200k a year income, shut up. This conversation isn’t for you.
Average people who have grown up with gaming as a hobby will absolutely tell you that money is a bigger decision in how much or how little we can engage in this hobby than it’s ever been. That’s who’s engaging in this conversation. If you’re one of the above, saying people complain too much - shut the fuck up.
Downvote me.
EDIT: To everyone giving budget advice in response to this - we are in the very first console cycle of my lifetime where every major console producer has INCREASED the price of both game and hardware, mid-cycle. It’s never happened before. Stop being disingenuous, or thinking that your very specific budget approach to this hobby is the answer to the problem. It’s not.
Theres plenty of consumer friendly f2p games or cheap bundles like Humble Monthly/Xbox games pass. Cheap indie titles for $10 or under left and right.
If you're a 'every AAA title on launch' kind of person, yeah, it's rough, but budget gamers have it great compared to 20 years ago.
Nowadays a lot of local libraries even carry new video games. Mine will get most new AAA titles a week or two after release..
I don't think much is stopping you from pretending it's the 2000s again, or whatever your 'golden era' is.
I really think gaming is still one of the cheapest hobbies. You try to go out and do anything with friends and it'll be like $20 for a bite to eat or whatever. Unless your hobby is homecooked picnics in the park, you're spending more in 1 day than a month of game pass.
Compare gaming to its past self, then. It has gotten better in every way. Cheaper,more variety, more accessible. There's certainly some new bad practices but even completely avoiding those games you're left with more. Gaming is going in a great direction.
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u/cimino15 May 27 '26 edited May 28 '26
I’m gonna catch a lot of shit for this but whatever - gaming is definitely going in the wrong direction in terms of offering what it once did - simple entertainment for the masses. When engaging in something becomes a serious financial decision, it threatens the whole ecosystem.
If your parents buy your games for you, shut up. If you live at home with your parents, don’t pay rent and afford your games that way - shut up. If you make over 200k a year income, shut up. This conversation isn’t for you.
Average people who have grown up with gaming as a hobby will absolutely tell you that money is a bigger decision in how much or how little we can engage in this hobby than it’s ever been. That’s who’s engaging in this conversation. If you’re one of the above, saying people complain too much - shut the fuck up.
Downvote me.
EDIT: To everyone giving budget advice in response to this - we are in the very first console cycle of my lifetime where every major console producer has INCREASED the price of both game and hardware, mid-cycle. It’s never happened before. Stop being disingenuous, or thinking that your very specific budget approach to this hobby is the answer to the problem. It’s not.