>>52194875Pokémon games make tons of money, but merch revenue dwarfs game revenue completely. It's evident by the breakneck dev cycle that the games mainly exist now as an engine to prop up said merch and generate new merch, so the problem is twofold - people who buy unfinished, low-quality games and people who buy overpriced merch. There's a lot of crossover between these two groups, but what baffles me most are people who know these games are shit, rightfully do not buy them, and yet will buy TCG packs or expensive plush, etc. because they are nostalgic for better times. Motherfucker, you are helping to keep the brand strong. When a brand is already so dominating, you are only assuring its stagnation.
It's not even as if most adults think these games are good. Outside of Twitter, Twitch, and similar sites filled with the terminally online, it is not controversial to suggest that Pokémon games aren't that good anymore, but the social aspect of consumerism has given people Stockholm syndrome. People fear that not buying the newest products means they are less attractive to their friends, or that they will lose opportunities to socialize with others. This is the dragon that must be slain if you wish to see game sales, and by extension, merch sales, to decline.
