>mid to late 2000s
>a new f2p mp game dropping every other week
>always fun
>never any monetization
>just devs dropping shit for the love of the game

Literally how did this ever happen? We didn't know how good we had it.

>>712650950 (OP)
Example?

>>712651052
GunZ
Exsteel
WarRock
Neotokyo

>>712650950 (OP)
>New tech emerges
>People with academic backgrounds create rough tech-demos to showcase the tech
>The resulting products aren't very good but capture the imaginations of a niche, small, but dedicated audience
>Some among the audience with creative ability become creators themselves
>Just creatives dropping shit for the love of the game
>Medium experiences a golden age
>Medium grows and attracts money
>Industry forms around the medium
>Money attracts people that care about money more than they do about the tech or the creative medium
>Enshittification begins

Has happened to practically every creative medium ever
The reason why the cycle broke and we're stuck in the last few steps is because technology has stagnated and hasn't advanced in any meaningful non-bullshit way in over a decade because western society is literally collapsing.

And no, VR isn't new tech. Strapping a screen on your face isn't a tech advance.