Your Gaming Products Do Not Define You

The cult-like defenders of billion dollar corporations

I think it would be cool if Final Fantasy VII Remake came to Xbox some day, even though many of that platform’s ardent defenders don’t love me. Maybe they wouldn’t enjoy its anti-corporate themes? PS5 screenshot taken by the author.

It’s totally okay to like video games, but if you spend your day storming into the comments sections of others who disagree with you to blindly stand up for a particular company — you might have a big problem.

“Brand loyalty” is so often a brain poison, and it’s regularly exploited by corporate marketing departments using the same strategies as cults and other high control groups in order to build up an army of customers who are ready to spend, spend, spend.

Yesterday, I wrote a thoughtful missive about the failings of Microsoft’s official Xbox Headset, and my hopes for the future of the product now that they’re about to launch a rumored new model. I discussed the high points (features, price) and low points (abysmal sound quality), backed up by years of experience both working in the audio editing field and reviewing tech products. As is the agreed upon custom, I then posted a link to the story on my social media accounts to promote my story — and braced myself for the inevitable.

Sure enough, by dawn, they had come. A proud small army of a half dozen men rode to the defense of their beloved Xbox brand, telling me that my opinion was wrong and that the entire headset was great actually. They clearly didn’t read…