Let’s get something off my chest.
I’ve been in and around games for years. Bought them, played them, talked about them, obsessed over them. But lately? Something feels… off. Not just in the industry, but in how we—the players, the streamers, the so-called “community”—treat games.
It all starts with a little thing called digital sales.
🛒 The Backlog Problem: When Games Became Digital Junk Food
Digital sales were a blessing at first. Suddenly, that game you couldn’t afford at launch was $15. Or $5. Or practically free. You could build a library of “must plays” without breaking the bank.
But somewhere along the way, something broke.
Games lost their weight.
When you pay full price for something, it matters. You think about it. You’re invested. You actually play the damn thing. When you get it for $3 during the 90%-off Steam Sale Extravaganza™? It just becomes another tile in your ever-growing backlog of shame.
🎮 Personal note: I’ve got over 600 games in my backlog. I know what I’m talking about.
The dopamine hit of buying replaced the joy of playing. And we normalized it. We brag about how many games we picked up for pennies, even if we’ll never touch them. Even if we don’t want to.
It’s no longer about experiences. It’s about collecting. Hoarding. Consuming.
Games became digital fast food—cheap, quick, disposable.
📺 Sales Culture Bleeds into Content Culture
And you know where this mindset really starts to stink?
Gaming streams.
Twitch is full of aspiring streamers who don’t love games.
They love the idea of being streamers.
They talk about “grinding Twitch” like it’s a job. A hustle. A shortcut to fame.
But here’s the kicker: most of them have no personality, no passion, and no content.
They don’t play games they care about.
They play what’s free. What’s trending. Whatever they think might “do numbers.”
The stream isn’t built around sharing a love for gaming.
It’s just a quiet, low-effort loop:
🎮 Boot up game they barely like
😐 Say nothing for half an hour
💬 “Thanks for the lurk!”
📊 Alt-tab to check viewer count
🔁 Repeat
They hide behind the “support small streamers” banner like it’s a personality trait.
But let’s be honest—no one’s actually watching anyone.
It’s lurk-for-lurk, follow-for-follow, empty metrics and no real community.
You didn’t “build a network.”
You created a ghost town of people tabbed out and muted.
🎭 If You Don’t Care About the Game, Why Should I?
Real ones stand out.
The 2-viewer streamer who lights up when they talk about RPG mechanics.
The retro gamer who knows every glitch in Mega Man X.
The hunter in Monster Hunter who explains why their armor set matters.
They care.
And that passion is contagious.
But far too many treat games like stepping stones—tools to reach affiliate, partner, or clout.
They’re not interested in the games. They’re interested in what the games can do for them.
Newsflash: If you don’t love the game you’re playing, your stream will feel just as empty as your enthusiasm.
🔄 So What Now?
I’m not saying digital sales should die.
And I’m not saying every streamer needs to be a walking encyclopedia of game lore.
But maybe we should all take a step back and ask:
- Why am I buying this game?
- Why am I playing this game?
- What do I love about this?
Because right now, we’re drowning in games, streams, and content that no one really cares about.
Let’s fix that—by actually caring again.