krudman:

I have a suggestion. You might not want to hear it, but I will suggest it none the less:

Next time you’re bored and want to do something: Play games with your friends that do not have loot boxes, seasons, passes, and FOMO. Yes, even that one you like. I know you think it’s special and not like the others, but it is.

Play mario kart, overcooked, golf with your friends, gang beasts, puyo tetris, bomberman, online board games! Games you put down instead of games you hold onto forever! Anything else you wouldn’t normally play! Play something where the point of it is to enjoy it instead of unlocking something.

I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong for enjoying service games. I do too! I love WoW! I think Sea of thieves is magical! Have you played omega strikers yet? It’s great! But as the industry changes we move further and further from games being games to be played and closer and closer to them being skinner box software that tickle our brains in specific ways where the point of them is to extract as much time from you instead of providing you with as much fun as possible.

Please play more games with your friends that are made to be enjoyed if only briefly rather than games that are designed to get your credit card information as many times as possible. Create memories and cherish them when they’re gone instead of reliving the same game play loops for years and wondering why this isn’t as fun as it used to be.