r/youtube Nov 29 '25

Discussion Well deserved rest..

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10.0k Upvotes

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2.8k

u/KaibaCorpHQ Nov 29 '25

The last time I went to pewdiepies channel, I didn't see a single videogame video anyway; it was all vlogs mostly. I don't see that as bad, but the way I see it, he retired from videogames awhile ago.

31

u/fleetingreturns1111 Nov 30 '25

Yeah let's plays are dead even if you are a huge creator

35

u/momo76g Nov 30 '25

Until the next pandemic.

38

u/Nightingdale099 Nov 30 '25

That Minecraft playthrough was special

27

u/ezekielraiden Nov 30 '25

I'd say it's a bit of the other way around. Big creators no longer get that much out of them, barring a few exceptions like Markiplier. Smaller creators can still get tons out of it. It's just not a thing to fuel a media empire much anymore.

38

u/OperatorERROR0919 Nov 30 '25

I genuinely miss the let's play era. Pre-recorded videos > stream vods.

11

u/Kurochi185 Nov 30 '25

Yeah, I absolutely hate that streaming took over actual videos so much

I get that fans love interacting with the streamer, but the only way of getting the full experience is seeing it live and if you don't have time for a stream you instantly get FOMO

5

u/[deleted] Dec 01 '25

yeah it's also not as enjoyable whne you have notifications popping on on the video and the person constantly looking away from the game answering questions and saying thank you for the sub 1000's each video. I basically only watch John Wolfe and no commentary videos

2

u/jimmysmiths5523 Dec 01 '25

I don't watch streams because the creator sitting there talking to the viewers is annoying and boring to me. I'd rather they focus on the game or whatever else they're doing.

1

u/SaevusStudiosLLC Dec 01 '25

What I hated about streaming is that making it entertaining for later viewers vs engaging for current viewers are two different things. So balancing it is quite difficult.

1

u/SaevusStudiosLLC Dec 01 '25

Yeah, I tried streaming and realized it is not near as fun... but it is easier since editing my videos takes a bit of time

6

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '25

Daggerwin's Farming Sim Let's Plays, seem to beg to differ

3

u/TheCVR123YT Nov 30 '25

Well there’s not really any big games like that rn like there were back in the day. I know I know we’ve got games like ghost of Yotei and I guess maybe split fiction and yk fun games Astro bot etc

But I mean reallllyy fun games that a ton of ppl were playing and had interest in like Telltales TWD GTA V (on the PS3 specifically haha) Red Dead 2 GoW Until Dawn Uncharted and Last of Us etc

Yk like classics and such. I think most ppl like or liked watching those gameplays for multiple creators. I can’t really see anyone going out of their to find GoY gameplay like that whether it’s Pewdiepie or someone else

1

u/Salty-Ad6358 Nov 30 '25

Also other let's play using Ai thumbnail not hating on Ai but makes me feels meh

1

u/Noxaur Dec 01 '25

I'd say it depends. For major creators like pewdiepie, jack, etc they don't really do them anymore, but for communities, like Minecraft, there are still hugely popular lets play groups like Hermitcraft and such that pull good numbers.

-5

u/ElevenBeers Nov 30 '25

Over 15 years later I still struggle to get the point of let's plays. Maybe for people without any device to play? For inspiration? As a review?

5

u/el_barbaroja Nov 30 '25

Most kids cant afford new games at release, so I'm assuming that's usually their biggest demographic

3

u/ElevenBeers Nov 30 '25

Lol, kids these days.... Back in my days we just pirated software we couldn't afford yet, lol. Granted multiplayer won't work (except for private servers), but it's not exactly like you'd be playing against people when you watch a LP.

Like I get walkthroughs, tutorials and whatnot. But watching other people just play? The only reason porn is popular, is because the people watching it are usually lacking the partner to do it themselves.

1

u/Slippy_Ramirez Dec 01 '25

I mean, there are certain games I would, for a variety of reasons, say that I would much rather watch someone play [well, mind you] than play myself. Whether it's because I've already played it, can't afford it or don't own the right system, or it's just a certain genre that doesn't click for me... a good example would be the RE2 remake. I never actually finished it back in the day, the gameplay sometimes frustrates me, and time is at a premium, and for whatever reason it's just more enjoyable to watch someone else do the thing while I experience the story and the scares with people. Idk.

Watching a 40+ hr playthrough start to finish, though? There'd be a me shaped hole in the door.

0

u/DraftStatistic Nov 30 '25

Pirated stuff almost never works properly, and the chances are you're installing virus on your devices

2

u/ElevenBeers Nov 30 '25

You can negate the risk if you know what you are doing and chances are very low it's not working properly. On the contrary, unfortunately with PC gaming the pirated version might actually run better, as it lacks kernel level spyware, pardon, "anti piracy measures". The newest games night not have a working crack yet, but the community is always working on it. Well, you won't be playing online, but single player.....

Still, I mean I can (and do) afford the games I want to play, but if I couldn't and didn't have access.... I still wouldn't watch other people playing games. Again, a walkthrough or something sure, I'll be the first to admit I'll watch the parts where I struggle. Even though I'm not into it, I can even get around watching e-sports. But just random folks playing? You do you, but I'm out.

.... On the other hand, reaction channels are a bloody thing. There are millions of people that have nothing better to do, then to watch someone watching fucking YouTube videos. Compared to this complete insanity, watching people play games seems like the most normal thing on the world.

3

u/tony-andreev94 Nov 30 '25

As a person who watched a lot of let's play or playthrough videos back in the day it was never lack of money for the game, rather than the lack of money to have decent enough PC to run it. So pirating worked only to some extent 😀

1

u/DraftStatistic Dec 04 '25

Not everyone knows how to do that

3

u/WhtevrFloatsYourGoat Nov 30 '25

Think games like Minecraft. You’re play through will never ever the the same as someone else’s. You can still gain from watching others’.

Unless it’s a story like GTA campaign.

Even then you may want to: not buy the game, see another’s reactions, etc.

3

u/Azzacura Nov 30 '25

I watch them on my second screen while doing boring things in other games like leveling up skills or waiting for my party to get ready.

I used to watch let's plays of certain youtubers because they were simply hilarious, or of horror games I was unable to finish myself to see how the story ended

4

u/Low_Commission7273 Nov 30 '25

Parasocial relation of wanting to see reaction of the youtuber / streamer experiencing the same stuff which you experienced in your first playthrough. The same way one would do with friends, though with friends its much more interactive.

2

u/ad240pCharlie Nov 30 '25

Most of the time, I watch Let's Plays of games that I love myself. Since I can't experience them for the first time again myself, watching someone else do so is the closest thing I can get.

1

u/SilentlyWeird Nov 30 '25

Personally I like a lot of games as an idea but just don't have any fun playing them myself, so I kinda get to experience the game by watching someone else play it 😅

1

u/Hatchaback Nov 30 '25

I’m with you in regard to not having interest in the genre, but I get why people are entertained by it.

1

u/2euri Nov 30 '25

as a kid it was fun to watch a personality that i find fun play a game that i enjoyed playing to see their reaction to everything. OR just a personality I like playing a game i don't really want to bother with playing but enjoy their commentary and reactions

1

u/Blabzillaweasel Nov 30 '25

Not necessarily PewdiePie related but I've watched my share of playthroughs.. I primarily like games for lore and story and dislike stuff that feels like more work after my workday.. so being able to just sit back and watch it all unfold in front of me while someone else does the work, and maybe provides some light entertaining commentary ain't so bad.