As you've said you've become disheartened with Pokémon and don't buy any of the new games, do you still keep up with the franchise (like through watching someone play the new games)? Or have you kinda dropped everything coming out of Pokémon currently?
i do still keep up with it somewhat, mainly because i don't want to grow out of touch when someone mentions something i'm not familiar with. while i haven't watched full playthroughs of every modern pokemon game, i keep myself up to date with the new species and general plot.
and while i admit some games have had fun and interesting concepts (legends arceus especially), i just can't bring myself to spend that much money on them year after year.
it is not a good feeling though. it feels like scrolling through your ex's social medias to see what they're up to. it's a mixed bag of emotions like "wow look at all the fun they're having without me", and then getting hit with something that reminds you why you broke up in the first place.
like. good god. both mega raichus look so bad and tacky. i know i'm the pikachu guy but even I'M disgusted. they really had to hammer in how raichu lives in the shadow of pikachu and will never be its own unique thing, huh...?
and announcing paid DLC before the game even released? good god. the arrogance.
that said, if people can find joy and fun in the modern games while i can't, good for them! i just personally don't think they're worth the $60 (+$30 to $60 DLC) when i can still find enjoyment and community with pokemon fans regardless of whether i buy the new games or not.
either way, TLDR, i do keep up with it to an extent, so that way i still know what my friends are talking about. but it's just not for me anymore.
