Square Enix Is Right: Games Shouldn't Ever Be Fun

thegamer.com:

If you’ve read Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda’s New Year’s Letter, you know that he believes in the future of the metaverse and NFTs almost as much as he believes some gamers “play to have fun.” In Matsuda’s defense, what he was saying was that most of Square Enix’s fanbase wants to enjoy games and hates the idea of adding even more expensive, extraneous bullshit in their games. But Matsuda is right: Games shouldn’t ever be fun.

First of all, let’s just define “fun.” Going with broad strokes, let’s say “enjoyable” as a piece of art in and of itself. This might be a good story, immersive mood, or great gameplay. And I think we can all agree that none of that is important to the video game experience. You want to go on a breathtaking quest with quirky characters? Fuck you, read a book. Games aren’t made for that shit anymore.

Related: Square Enix Doesn’t Think Games Should Be Fun Anymore And That Should Scare UsThe days of playing video games to “have fun” or “not feel the pain as everyday life” are over. As Matsuda says, games are now all about “play to earn.” That’s right, baby, get that bag! Rather than work at a job sitting at a desk staring at a screen all day, you could be working at a job sitting at a desk staring at a screen all day while learning to hate your favorite things! Just keep gaming all night and maybe you’ll feed the baby! It’s like streaming, except somehow even less lucrative. You’re not really a human being unless you’re turning your hobbies into mandatory homework.

And here’s one thing that’s not fungible: How great NFTs in games are going to be. And make no mistake: They are going to happen. Sure, virtually nobody wants NFTs in games outside of rubes who think the phrase “pyramid scheme” refers to