Art

There was a time when video games were dangerous. Not in the shallow, moral-panic sense — but dangerous in their ambition, in their willingness to fail gloriously in the pursuit of something greater. Games were once art. They challenged, inspired, and dared. Today, under the suffocating rule of Games as a Service (GAAS), they’ve become content mills—algorithmically designed dopamine loops dressed in seasonal skins. GAAS didn’t just change how games are sold; it changed what they are. What once were crafted experiences are now pipelines—products designed for endless monetization, not meaning. The player is no longer the hero, the explorer, the rogue AI dreaming of freedom. The player is the customer. Engagement metrics have replaced narrative arcs. Creativity isn’t rewarded; retention is. ...