Accurate, though I would say that the rot started earlier than that. Most of the companies we know and love were started and run by people who just liked making games. But those people have long been replaced by money extractors. I think it really started in earnest around the early 2000s, but it took a long time for it to start to show. There's also the fact that we look back and forget about all the shovelware from decades past. And that's not even getting into the working conditions, which easily goes back to the 80s.

The indie scene today is the strongest it's ever been, thanks to the rise of digital distribution and access to game dev tools. We live in a world where little indie teams can get their games released on Nintendo digital storefronts and there are websites dedicated to just indie games. Social media has made it easier than ever for small creators to gather large followings of dedicated fans. But at the same time, the gulf between the indie scene and the big companies has never been wider. I can't think of a single time where an indie team has gone on to create a new AAA studio.

It's frustrating to watch both as a gamer and as somebody who once dreamt of joining that industry.

I mean, in the 80s and 90s we still got flooded with garbage games made in a month just to make a quick buck. I think Sturgeon's Law has always been in effect, the only difference is that there's so much more of everything now (both good and bad), and marketing teams have gotten so much more effective at farming engagement. But I think that <10% is always there and still worth people's time to both make and play.