Clearly a management issue, devs have what it takes to deliver quality games but impossible deadlines just kills the potential
I see this comment often when this gets reposted. And I agree with you. But in the context of this meme, I guess "game developers" does not refer to the actual programmers, but rather game-making companies.
So publishers. Developers make it reality, publishers fund and push deadlines, are responsible for the culture of ‘games as a service’, and content is often cut because of this.
My opinion is that the publishers are just the spearhead.
Someone else mentioned that games are no longer the result of passion, but only the means to make money for most gaming companies. Publishers are the ones that have to make this happen.
But we, as gamers, are also responsible. If we show publishers that the only viable solution to make a lot of money is to make great games, they will do so. But if we continue to buy these unfinished, mtx-full, crappy products, then we are incentivising them to continue making such games.
Software bloat is indeed very real
I see you, Blizzard.
Indie devs are still pulling off crazy feats.
Back then game companies were doing what was fun and revenue was a great bonus. Now they are publicly traded companies and the board is trying to squeeze out every penny.