I watched the series of the early 2000s and 2010s and compared them with the series closer to the 2020s and directly felt the difference, as if the authors really tried something before, I really cried when watching or was happy for the characters. The same with games, I played several games from the 2000s, and one sank into my heart, even after playing it a few years later, its plot still evokes vivid and pleasant memories, which has not yet happened with any game from the 2010s and even more so from the 2020s.
I’m not the only one, am I?
It feels like there has been some dropoff, particularly in higher-budget areas. Big studios seem to be taking fewer risks, and small creators have less money (and time by extention) to spend on art.
That said, it also feels like discoverability has gotten far worse. Social media has become increasingly insular, more personalized, more algorighmic, and ultimately harder to explore. Its not like the old days, where you could find a new thing, even from a random person’s forum signature.