Die Shrink 38: What does “Hardcore Gamer” mean in 2021? (Patreon)

For almost our entire lives Dan and I have seen people say "This is for hardcore gamers," and it kinda used to make sense back in the 2000s. However back then gaming was without a doubt much more niche.

However in 2021 most Americans play video games, and some genres that used to be considered nerdy (like RPGs) are selling millions of copies day one. How can something be "hardcore" if such a thing makes more money than mainstream movies? We discuss based on Patron’s Reader Mails.