I think movies, games and TV are all suffering the same sort of problem. They’ve become basically shovelware, even or maybe especially the triple A entries.

With the exception of darling indies, they largely don’t exist because anyone had anything interesting or new to say. They exist because companies made them to make money - actual thought about plot/gameplay came second if not third, and is only there to the extent needed to sell the product. Whole thing is horse before the cart.

There used to be palpable passion in media. It’s hard to find these days, with notable exceptions of course.

Modern Gaming feels like a chore compared to older games. It isn't just nostalgia. Most games are designed to waste your time for maximum player engagement. Modern Gaming is boring by design.