I'm giving up on modern gaming and I know I'm not the only one: Reader's Feature

As I sit here, reflecting on the state of modern gaming, I'm reminded of the countless hours I spent as a teenager, huddled around arcade machines, marveling at the likes of Street Fighter 2 and Monster Hunter. Those were the days when games were more than just a fleeting trend; they were immersive experiences that demanded dedication and skill. The developers behind those iconic titles weren't chasing the latest fad; they were crafting worlds that would leave a lasting impact.

At 49, I find myself at a crossroads, looking back on the decades I've spent in the gaming community. The more I reflect on the past, the more I'm struck by the stark contrast between the gaming landscape of yesteryear and the soulless, corporate behemoth it's become today. The recent reveal of Horizon Hunters Gathering, a game that promises to deliver more of the same Fortnite-chasing, loot box-filled experience that's become all too familiar, is a perfect example of the problem. It's hard not to feel exhausted by the sheer audacity of it all.

There's a generational chasm opening up in gaming, and it's one that the executives in charge seem woefully oblivious to. On one side, we have a generation of gamers like myself, who remember when games were more than just a disposable commodity. We recall a time when developers poured their hearts and souls into crafting experiences that would leave a lasting impact. We remember the Capcom standard of the 90s and early noughties, when games were more than just a means to an end.

Things started to go wrong around the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4 era. The infamous horse armour DLC was just the beginning of a trend that would mutate into the live service models, microtransactions, and endless loot boxes that plague the gaming industry today. It's a system that rewards players for logging in every day, rather than rewarding them for their skill and dedication.

The real tragedy is that the younger generation, born with tablets glued to their hands, has no idea what they've lost. They've been indoctrinated by a manufactured ecosystem that tells them that a game is nothing more than a digital storefront, designed to extract every last penny from their pockets. They don't question why a title ships half-finished or why they're expected to cough up extra cash for base content.

As I look to the future, I'm filled with a sense of dread. Will the gaming industry ever return to its roots, or will it continue down the path of soulless, corporate greed?In my opinion, the gaming industry needs to take a hard look at itself and ask: what have we lost in the pursuit of progress? Have we sacrificed our souls for the sake of profit? The answer, I fear, is a resounding yes.