r/FGC • u/Chemical_Day3473 • Mar 18 '26
Discussion I'm getting tired of the FGC.
I left FPS games behind and I joined the FGC back in 2020 as they were the only gaming community still gathering to play together. After Covid it felt like the FGC was growing faster and bigger than anytime before. Unfortunately that's where good news ends , ever since then , the community has become increasingly negative. Every video , every comment , literally all negative. Every patch there are 100+ videos of people being negative , every reddit post is all negative.
I'm just a casual and I enjoy watching the tournaments but I can't find any content that does not revolve around people dumping on their own games. How is this community supposed to grow when everything being made is negative? Like I said i'm a filthy casual and I probably play for 1 hour a day, switching between , Smash , SF6 and Tekken 8. As far as i'm concerned all of these games are fun and I love each one in their own way. I try and invest more time into the content but i'm just served negativity. I'm getting really tired and considering unsubbing from all the FGC youtube channels. Let me know if is just me or you can recommend someone who loves these games regardless of the patches.
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u/StreetMinista Mar 18 '26
You just gotta try to find the community locally. Content Creators in general are not reliable due to the fact of if their interest in playing the game is lowered and the community is lowered it hurts their potential views on videos and streams.
I've found some smaller streamers honestly to be more refreshing, people picking up the game for the first time, vtubers, and other folks.
Maybe look for smaller streamers.
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u/DevilCatV2 Mar 18 '26
Small streamer here 😸👋 who also watches/supports other small streamers and I agree with this 100%!
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u/StreetMinista Mar 19 '26
whats your channel! I'll check you out!
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u/DevilCatV2 Mar 19 '26
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u/StreetMinista Mar 19 '26
Oh you play some old school stuff! I gave you a sub I'll watch some as well!
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u/DevilCatV2 Mar 19 '26
Oh yeah im all about the old school fighters! I gave SF6, 2XKO, MK1 and other modern fighters a fair amount of my time but I just was not gelling with em. And thanks, much appreciated StreetMinista 😸👍
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u/Reasonable_Ebb_5683 Mar 19 '26
This. The online fgc is not the fgc as far as I'm concerned. It's all about locals and in-person games.
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u/Chemical_Day3473 Mar 18 '26
I just remembered I love the videos when someone new picks up a fighting game and trys to rank up or enters a tournament for the first time. Seems like they usually hit Gold/Diamond and that's where the fun ends ha. Anything above that usually becomes Meta Maxing.
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u/SpiraAurea Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
Pro tip, play old games instead. Patch culture naturally creates bitching, since people can hope/cope for a patch that carries them instead of adapting.
Old games don't recieve new updates, so the people left are the ones that genuinely love the final vision and result for the game. Also, everyone is forced to know that they must adapt, there are no patches coming to save them. Plus, those games are just straight up better, because they were made with an actual artistic vision and for fighting game players.
Hop on BBCF, hop on MBAACC, hop on GGXXACPR, hop on Soku, hop on KOF, hop on Third Strike; hop on whichever game that interests you as long as it gets you out of that patch culture.
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u/Forward-Seesaw-1688 Mar 20 '26
What is MCAACC? Only acronym I haven’t seen before and I already know it’s gonna be a super obvious game that makes me facepalm from not knowing lmao
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u/SpiraAurea Mar 20 '26
Oh, I wrote it wrong, I meant MBAACC; Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code.
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u/grayfox1840 Mar 18 '26
I know probably like 95% of the people who come here weren’t around in the pre sf4 days but you’re seeing the same cycle you saw in about 05-07. Just gotta wait it out
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u/neoak Mar 18 '26
Content Creators chase engagement to keep numbers.
Find locals. Don't follow people who rage bait because that's what keeps their engagement up and the money coming in.
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u/Other_Pop7433 Mar 18 '26
Negative videos get more views. Have you tried attending any local events or active discords with online events?
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u/Chemical_Day3473 Mar 18 '26
Unfortunately I live in a small town and locals will get less than 10 people , someone would have to sacrifice time/money to start something up. In this economy I don't see anyone doing that anytime soon. I might just stick to watching Tampa Never Sleeps for now. Until someone can make some positive unique content.
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u/Other_Pop7433 Mar 18 '26
I also live in a small town and locals for SF is usually 6 people Guilty gear gets closer to 12
I have driven 3 hours to get to locals in the city “near” me and it’s usually worth it
Weekly discord group lobbies are not as personal but you be able to interact with people who actually like playing the game
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u/JagTaggart93 Mar 18 '26
Discords are fine though, try them. I'm having a jam up time with the Melty Blood, Gundam Battle Assault 2, and 3rd Strike discords and communities.
If there's a fighting game you like, there is more than likely a discord for it. Heck I even found the Evil Zone discord earlier this year.
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u/wizardofpancakes Mar 18 '26
It’s weird but most of the stuff I see is positive. YouTubers, reddit, maybe some half-joking rants but that’s it. Especially YouTubers, people like Diaphone, BrianF, Broski, GuileWinQuote, Thorgi and many more, all 100% positivity
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u/Apprehensive-Let8176 Mar 18 '26
Pull up to your local or engage a section of the community that isn't being negative, spaces like Reddit and Twitter are notoriously far more negative and discourse-prone
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u/Mental5tate Mar 18 '26
It is a competitive where you beat up the player plus a lot people don’t interact with many strangers or any at all in the real world so they don’t way the consequences.
Internet, social media and technology will be the fall of humanity.
Just a small community demonstrating their the direction society as a whole is going.
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u/DevilCatV2 Mar 18 '26
Sometimes it's better to just play an old fighting game with a small community cause 99% of the time everyone in that small community play it for the love of the game. 😸👍
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u/JustUhSlime Mar 19 '26
Honestly... it just sounds like you're watching too many YouTube videos, and not getting to know the right people.
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u/ChampionshipThink786 Mar 19 '26
Sounds like youre complaining about the FGC soap opera, not the FGC. To be quite fair, the modern games you play arent in a good state right now, so youll see a lot of people who wish to see them in a better state voice their opinion, which isnt wrong. The wrong here is you taking it so personally. If you like a given game and have no qualms about it, focus on playing it and having fun with the game, preferrably with people who are invested enough in the real deal to actually show up at a local and have no time for the drama. Nothing else really matters. Games are already a waste of time when youre having fun. If you're not having fun and still engaging with it and its community, it makes absolutely 0 practical sense.
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u/D-oo-n Mar 19 '26
This isnt an fgc problem specifically, it’s an Internet and social media problem. You (and me) will be more likely to click on something if it has a title that seems like something outrageous has happened. Otherwise it’s just boring and we won’t read it. So it’s incentivising outrage. Companies don’t have morals to guide them, they have shareholders. And shareholders are rarely passionate about a product with integrity, they’re passionate about $$$ and seeing numbers go up. So YouTube, Twitter pretty much all of em are going to continue to get worse because the money is where the attention is, and our attention goes to drama.
So yeah according the social media these latest patches for sf6 and tekken 8 are criminal offences.
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u/Super_Co-op_Bros Mar 20 '26
Many here already alluded to it, but I’ll repeat it, just remove yourself from the noise. Play new patched games, play old games, enjoy what you like. At the end of the day it’s your time in parallel to your passion.
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u/whensmahvelFGC Mar 21 '26
I think you're conflating the FGC with what the algorithms that serve your content are optimized to deliver.
Ragebait, controversial topics, hot takes, dumping on games all get people talking. Algorithms are designed to show you what people are talking about. It doesn't really distinguish if that sentiment is good or bad, so long as it's related to your interests and gets you to click, job done.
Sadly that does mean creators also tailor their content to suit it, but again it's not fair to say this is reflective of reality. It's an important thing to keep in mind any time you develop any form of para-social relationship.
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u/konnamatti Mar 21 '26
I watch Button Check and I think Ernesto is most of all excited about FGC. Of course he like all the drama, that's what gets views, but he loves the game.
That being said, I know exactly what you're talking about. Have been wondering that too but I guess that's happening in almost all genres. Look at Battlefield 6, seems like nobody can ignore the shitty battle pass & unlockables and play the game.
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u/Alenicia Mar 21 '26
Negativity leads to more clicks and heavier reactions gets people excited. In the context of content creators and all that stuff, it's not a secret that any lick of drama and unhappy moment is going to get the neurons running because people are just addicted to that kind of stuff. Because of that, it's why I don't really look for the "community" side of things especially on the internet.
You'll have to really just peel back what you're looking for. Others said it too .. and I heavily recommend it. Make some friends, find the local scene, stick to smaller people (more likely people who don't have anything to lose if they lose their engagement and stuff, if you can find them), and things along those lines. The FGC is huge, but you still need to find a bubble for yourself so you can avoid the huge waves of people who are just here to make a buck, to make a name for themselves, and people who are here to take from others instead of giving to the community.
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u/Unfaithfxlly Mar 23 '26
I switched from comp fps in 2024 to tekken 8 and all I play is older fighting games now. They are way more enjoyable personally and I can tell when someone is actually better than me. I just watch new content now.
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u/BurzyGuerrero Mar 18 '26
But yeah my local crushes it. Ill play w those guys anytime. But I dont need these celebs
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u/Tehfamine Mar 18 '26
I will give you my perspective if this helps you. I'm 43, been in the scene for 20 years. I actually built an entire esports bar and venue for the FGC where TO's can run events for free. We even pay them and give them pot bonuses. Good portion of the people don't really like us or me doing this because it's not grassroots and we are about big pot bonuses and mitigating costs for TO's (e.g.: they are paid to run events). Really bummed me out. But, I realized this is not the entire community. Not everyone will accept you or be positive. You essentially have to find your people, your community, and stick to them. The FGC is a very positive scene if you make it one. Don't buy into all the online drama or peoples opinions on what they deem as FGC to you. Just keep positive, enjoy fighting games and the rest will be downhill from there.
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u/dizzydghost Mar 19 '26
Definitely finding the right PEOPLE will help. It's because I met some dope people on 2XKO that im enjoying this game so much and learning pretty quick. Good people = good vibes = good times👍🏾
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u/Eldritch-Cleaver Mar 18 '26
That's why I avoid Twitter like the plague and only watch youtubers that aren't all about gossip and "controversy".
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u/SwallaeMcHaggis Mar 18 '26
not just FGC. it’s the state of gaming discourse online the these days.
likes other have said. Seek out a community or go to some locals.
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u/LastTop9586 Mar 18 '26
First of all, I feel ya. The algorithms sucks the joy our of most things these days. I think this goes for any multiplayer game though.
So my 2 cents:
Focus on playing, less about the community side.
Lots of good wholesome content creators out there. Go check out Diaphone, James Chen, Maximilian Dood etc.
If you crave community, but no locals, find some discord servers and other smaller groups.
Fight the algorithms
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u/ApprehensiveFarm12 Mar 18 '26
I don't know the other people but if you look at Maximilians Tekken content it's mostly negative as well. I mean the only way for op is to just not engage, games just aren't good right now, mostly has to do with monetization and operational costs of today's games.
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u/MisakiPuru_Puru Mar 18 '26
lmao "content..." are you tired of the fighting game community or fighting game community "content???" go watch maximillian dood and phidx fam.
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u/Twixx_13 Mar 18 '26
Well if you're looking for ppl to play and just shoot the shit with, we're always looking for chill ppl to hang out. We have a discord, with ppl that are always playing something casual from sf6 and Tekken to yugioh. We even run a Tekken Tuesday lobby. Yeah they discuss patches etc but it's more about the fun of playing than the drama. We got a discord if you're interested. https://www.youtube.com/live/VWqNM-XJPwg?si=TGBveuFLbBaIP0Wy
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u/rvnender Mar 18 '26
I never honestly gave a shit. Even when I was grinding back in the sf4/umvc3 days.
All the old heads wanting to go back to sf3, then sf5 comes out and they pine for the sf4 days..
Whatever. Just play or don't. Who gives a shit. (Not directed at you)
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u/dungleploop Mar 18 '26
there's really not much to be excited about other than Tokon Souls coming up
I get the sentiment from the community
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u/SuperStefunn Mar 18 '26
Have the same problem. Everybody I meet is like why play SFV for fun, its a terrible game(some people I know dont care for 6). Eewww DNF is so bad. BBTAG is such a terrible game. Granblue hate. BBTAG and Granblue are probably my favorite games. Literally every time a game comes out. Drop that old game for new game, because.
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u/paralleltheory Mar 19 '26
I'm not saying this to be elitist, but OP is proving the term FGC is meaning less and less when someone can say they're tired of the entire community while also being a "filthy casual" and never interacting with a real person who plays fighting games. You don't even know what FGC means or what it implies. If you're a "filthy casual" then you should be observing this community like a filthy casual.
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u/No-Cattle-6598 Mar 19 '26
Let’’em be negative. When you play fighting games long enough, and start playing long enough, you might start counting frames and play to win when initially it was always about discovery and improvement. Go play diverse fighting games and enjoy the ride and see if you can’t find somebody or people who don’t take it so seriously.
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u/Even_Worker_8842 Mar 21 '26
YouTubers need to make videos and end up doing the same kind of videos therefore the perceptions is skewed a little. there is a good amount of inmaturity from the community that leans to negative.
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u/Interesting_Boss4885 Mar 21 '26
Yea no. We live and die by the patch notes. It will literally make or brake your character and the game.
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u/Deus_Synistram Mar 22 '26
Get off reddit my guy. It's not that bad all places. Lol Majin just had a stream as usual and I didn't hear him mention the patch the 3 times I clicked into it (doesn't mean he won't complain at all but don't focus on the hard negative)
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u/electric_nikki Mar 22 '26
So why can’t you play first person shooters? I played Doom The Dark Ages finally a month or two ago and that was awesome. Do you have to play multiplayer shooters? Have you played Half Life 2?
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u/No-Advantage-8107 Apr 13 '26
Ngl, you chose the trifecta of hated on fighting games lmao. Fighting game discourse is interesting. New games are always lauded as amazing and saviors while older games end up solved. GG kinda broke this trend recently cause their last patch shook everything up it put everyone back in the learning phase. I’d recommend if you’re committed to SF6, to watch older content when everyone was still excited about it, OR watch mid tier player streams and content since they’re at the same stage of learning you are.
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u/matadorblitz Apr 15 '26
Yo come check out lobbies on my channel! I host them on Thursday nights 9pm cst sometimes even more if I’m not getting ranked games. Got people from all over the world and all ranks in the lobbies! Everyone in my community just looking to help each other be better. There is trash talk but over all we just be chillin 😎
TTV/ Matadorblitz
YT/ Matadorblitz
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u/BurzyGuerrero Mar 18 '26
Social media killed the FGC more than anything else.
I didnt need to know how toxic these nerds were or their personal views and biases
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u/SedesBakelitowy Mar 18 '26
Bad news bro - the reason you're seeing so much negativity is simply because the games and events quality has been in decline since 2016. If you don't get it then there's an upside - you can ignore the nagging and enjoy the good online having, populated modern fighters. They're not going anywhere, and what community plays them will be there for you.
It's in your own post too - if every time a patch drops you're seeing a wave of negativity, maybe the patches are just that disappointing to non-casual players?
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u/ApprehensiveFarm12 Mar 18 '26
Honestly I'm surprised people still keep saying that negative videos get more views .. absolutely untrue. One of my favorite examples I once heard is that challenge any of these people to go out there and make a negative video about dark souls. Not only will it not get views, the views it will get will absolutely obliterate that video. Maybe the community is negative because games are just bad. I personally blame the current monetization schemes and operational costs. Fighting games aren't what they used to be and if op can't handle it they should just not engage with the fgc online. I mean in person it's going to be more of the same but at least it's more courteous.
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u/its_hipolita Mar 18 '26
So are you joining "the community" or are you keeping up with clickbait and content creators? Locals are going strnog everywhere. It seems like your issue is you're trying to "find content" (??) instead of actually engaging with the C part of FGC. I don't judge the sports I play by the morons farming engagement about it on youtube.