>>713630435Mainstream game journalism was always just a glorified PR arm for corporations. For years they thrived by gatekeeping access and cozying up to publishers, selling hype as critical analysis. But the rise of streamers and influencers shattered that monopoly. Once gamers started trusting random dudes with webcams over blue check journalists, the media's leverage crumbled.
Thatโs when they pivoted hard into politics. Not because they cared but because outrage became the only way to stay relevant. They veered into radical ideological territory, pushing divisive narratives not out of conviction but desperation. It wasnโt about justice. It was about clicks and survival. And surprise, that backfired too.
Now the influence they once had is dying faster than their ad revenue. People would rather hear unfiltered takes from someone like Asmongold, a guy in a bathrobe, than be talked down to by preachy hacks like Jason Schreier. The trust is gone and their cultural grip is slipping.
While the old guard burns itself out, corporations are adapting fast. Soon they wonโt even need journos or human influencers. AI personas, perfectly tuned to demographics, will dominate Twitch and social media, blending in so well no one will tell theyโre fake. The message will be controlled end to end. No criticism, no leaks, no dissent. The age of corporate media might be ending. But whatโs coming next might be even worse.