History BrokenBase / VideoGames

* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' flame wars.
** The dividing lines can be boiled down to SNES-era-and-earlier supporters, most of whom will band around ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' and/or ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' supporters (who tend to be [[FandomRivalry hated]] by the former camp and anyone who prefers ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' or ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''), and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''-and-later supporters, who are sharply divided on the merits of direct sequels like ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' and whether the [=MMOs=] are part of the main series. Other games' supporters tend to band together with one of these primary camps. Do well to know which camp is predominant in your area; talking about how great you imagine Sephiroth to be when you're on a forum filled with oldschool players is a good way of getting yourself mercilessly mauled. And the violent arguments within the ''Final Fantasy VII'' fandom alone are enough to cow a small island nation.
** Was ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' a worthy successor or a lazy, rushed cash-in?
** ''Final Fantasy VII'': Was the Compilation a good idea or not? Just about the ''only'' thing not up to debate here is that ''Dirge of Cerberus'' didn't play very well. There's also the [[DieForOurShip legendary hatred between Tifa and Aerith fans]]. Curiously, [[HoYay slashing the two together]] will get both sides to stop fighting long enough to {{Squee}}, while [[OneTrueThreesome shipping CloudxAerithxTifa]] will get both sides to toss rocks at you. It's got to be [[MemeticMutation a meme.]] In camp one, you have "Sephiroth is the best Final Fantasy villain ever!" and in camp 2: "Sephiroth's an overrated {{Bishonen}} mama's boy adored only by squeeing fangirls, and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Kefka's]] way more [[FauxAffablyEvil evil]] and [[LoveToHate entertaining]] to watch!" There's even debate over whether the flower girl's name is Aeris or Aerith.
** Careful saying you like ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''. Lot of real cranks for that one. Many of them people who had never played a Final Fantasy game before VII and were sorely upset because VIII wasn't a sequel, and they've never forgiven it for that.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', naturally, created a huge rift between the people who thought it was a good tribute to the old classical SNES-era games with its more lighthearted and idealistic themes and colorful world, and those who thought the FF series was, is, and should always be intended for more mature audiences, and saw IX as a big step backwards.
*** Other points of contention regarding ''IX'': Sci-Fi vs. Fantasy (''VII'' and ''VIII'' had moved the series into almost completely Sci-Fi with Fantasy window dressing, while ''IX'' was more "pure" fantasy than ''FF'' had been since ''IV'') and [[ArtShift the art style]] (the change from ''VIII'' (the most realistic up until that point) to ''IX'' (the most "moe" of the main games) was a bit much for some fans.
** You should also be careful about saying you like ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2''. If you say it too loud in a public place where people can hear you, you'll get torn apart between the people who want to drag off with you and talk about how great the game was, and the ones who simply want to tear you apart for liking it.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''. Should they be considered part of the main series despite the GenreShift, or spinoffs despite the fact that they're numbered as though part of the main series? Are they even any good? And what about ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', which had an [=MMO=]-inspired combat system despite being offline and single-player?
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' fans have two lines of thought: Either Red Mages need to be able to self-skillchain for 2 trillion damage while casting Meteor instantly while gangraping the 50 mobs around them, or that Red Mage is horribly, ''horribly'' broken, and needs to either be hit with the nerfbat or never updated at all, ever. The arguments have gotten so old most people go "Red Mages? ''Again?''" and promptly ignore the thread. Another point of contention is meleeburn-style parties. Either meleeburns are the best thing that ever happened to the game and an elegant solution to the problems of LevelGrinding and [[AnAdventurerIsYou DPSer]] oversupply, or they're a cancer on the game that precludes people's training in basic tactics, excludes some jobs and perverts others, and has caused the seek function to be conquered by StopHavingFunGuys.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': Every single gameplay element apart from the graphics is either praised to ungodly levels or is causing cataclysmic shitstorms, depending on who you ask. It even split the professional reviewers to previously unseen levels. Also, Lightning's fans call her a strong feminist role model in a series that is famous for its ShrinkingViolet style characters in revealing outfits. Her haters point out that she is rude, needlessly violent, glorifies the double standard that it alight for a woman to hit a man and is still far too MsFanservice (such as her L'Cie brand being situated between her boobs).
** As for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' (formerly known as ''Final Fantasy Versus XIII'')... Let's just say you're better off reading all about it [[BrokenBase/FinalFantasyXV here]].
** There are two types of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' fans. One side believes that Marche was right to undo the existence of Ivalice, so that his friends would face life (the [[AnAesop Aesop]] of the game). The other believes that, through doing this, Marche is a mass murderer, like [[GodwinsLaw Hitler]] times a million.
** Every ''Final Fantasy'' sequel plays quite a bit differently than all previous games in the series, much more than most other video game series. So it is easy to see how fans could have a TheyChangedItNowItSucks attitude towards the games in the series that aren't their favorite.
** There's also the fact they started to use less and less medieval HighFantasy settings and more PunkPunk type settings.
** It's best not to start a discussion on race and the characters. Asking whether Cloud or Tifa are Asian or not causes major backdraft in particular.
** People who think ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'''s battle system was a right direction for innovation versus people crying for tradition.
** And, of course, which system made ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' popular to begin with, and why did the game go to a certain platform.
** The issue of sequels and remakes as a whole:
*** With remakes, it goes like this: on the one side, you have the people who pitch a fit every time SE does something that isn't a completely new title. On the opposite side, you have vigorous defenders of porting/remakes whose usual favorite argument is media accessibility. In between you have the people who are in favor of porting/remakes in theory but have concerns over the ''actual'' ports/remakes SE has made due to quality etc. issues. None of them like the other very much. Further complicating this are the lines drawn between fans of different versions--for example, you have fans of the SNES pure-Woolsey translation of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' and fans of the revised GBA translation. The first side argues with NostalgiaFilter over the translation and GoodBadBugs and says that the flaws of Woolsey's translation (if they are even acknowledged) are a product of the times and circumstances and that he represents more of a step forward than anything. GBA advocates argue that the revised translation is more accurate to the original version of the game, are not amused by the GoodBadBugs, and cite the additional content of their version as reasons for its superiority. Once discussion of what the character Setzer was "[[AlternateCharacterInterpretation really like]]" gets started, run for the hills.
*** Sequels. You have the fans who like sequels in general and in principle, the fans who only like some sequels, and the fans who hate everything the word "sequel" stands for. The arguments are absolutely ''vicious''. Notably, many of these kvetchfests are fans using sequels as proxies in already-extant rivalries (Fans of ''VI'' have targets firmly locked on the Compilation of ''VII'', which is a damning example/cause of favoritism, selling-out, quality decline, the hole in the ozone layer, and long lines in the DMV; fans of the franchises of ''VII'' and ''XIII'' are engaged in a sort of bizarre dick-measuring contest where sequel numbers are some sort of indicator of inherent worth of a thing). Perhaps ironically, the no-sequel-ever purists are quick to attack the sequel fans as being johnny-come-latelies who only care about getting more of their favorite FF game (that is the only one they have ever played) and accuse them of knowing nothing of the history of the series--and while it's true that SE doing direct sequels is a relatively new thing, it's also true that before they did direct sequels, fans begged them to do it.
** The main artists and design philosophy in general, particularly the heated rivalry between Nomura and Amano fans, a time-honored proxy conflict of the "old school" versus "new school" when it isn't an artistic debate on its own. (And it frequently is, because these two artists have a very different approach to their work on the series because... well, the one-sentence version is that Amano is an amazing illustrator but a poor designer, while Nomura is a poor illustrator but an amazing designer). Creator/TetsuyaNomura has a gigantic HateDom (that explicitly wish death on him) as well as his fervently-adoring fandom. Creator/YoshitakaAmano has fewer haters, due to both [[GrandfatherClause his role in the genesis of the franchise]] and his fandom descending on Amano's critics with all the kindness and subtlety of africanized bees. Akihiko Yoshida has his own fan issues as well, frequently related to underdog issues. Each of these three represent a different approach to visuals, and ''FF'' fans are willing to crucify each other over their dedication to design.
** Then there's the {{Bishonen}} issue. You have the fans ([[{{Fangirl}} many female]]) who love the pretty men, the fans (many male) who loathe the pretty men, and the myriad positions inbetween, usually connected to fanboyship of one of the above artists.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' is ''full'' of this:
** A subset of fans are bitterly, ''bitterly'' at arms over the differences between ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', ''VideoGame/Halo2'', and ''VideoGame/Halo3''. Some complaints centered around the fact that they gave the Elites English dialog, destroying their eerie and creepy mystique, and physically transformed them from sleek and lanky to big and bulky. Some liked the change, while others didn't. There are fans who also find it ridiculous that 80% of the Halo story isn't in the game but in tie-in merchandising.
** People also had this reaction to the developer interview stating that the Elites would be "scary" again (in terms of speaking in a non-human language again) in ''VideoGame/HaloReach''.
** ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' got this over continuity.
** In the original trilogy, there's also people who think the Pistol was perfect in the first game, and the people who think the first group should just suck it up and use the Battle Rifle, which is the same thing. Of course, later games restored the pistol to something approximating its former glory .
** Whether or not ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'' is worth 60 dollars.
** How about Matchmaking? When ''Halo 2'' tried it for the first time, the gaming community was split between those who liked the ease of being placed in a game with a certain ruleset and those who wanted full control of what server they wanted to play without having to rely on building a friend's list for custom games.
** People generally agree that ''Reach''[='s=] multiplayer is solid. But when it comes to the campaign, people are vehemently split. Some don't like it for varying reasons, some for gameplay, others say TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot. It's mostly the latter though. Apparently it didn't live up to its premise and wasn't as epic, dark, gritty and emotional as they thought it would be (some saying there was zero tension and dramatic weight in the game, considering the circumstances). Also possibly due to the fact it contradicts the ExpandedUniverse. Then there's Noble Team itself, with most only liking Jorge, Emile, and maybe Kat.
** Honestly, almost every campaign after ''Combat Evolved'' is polarizing.
** Armor abilities, especially the invincibility-granting Armor Lock, are very polarizing to ''Reach''[='s=] MP player base. Some players defend Armor Lock as something that requires a lot of skill to use effectively, while detractors consider it a broken game mechanic that allows players to easily cheat death when they would otherwise not be able to.
** Matters have not improved with Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries' takeover of the franchise. Their first order of business was a title update for ''Reach'', changing a number of elements of gameplay that were clamored for by the community. Cue the vitriolic war between those in favor of the TU updates and those who say ''Reach'' was fine from day one.
** The canonization of Noble Six being a male rubbed some fans the wrong way. Some fans believe that Six's gender should have stayed ambiguous.
** ''VideoGame/Halo4'' might be one of the most controversial of the games yet, due to it having perhaps the most changes introduced in a ''Halo'' game at the time. On the one hand, there's people who liked the direction. On the other, there are people who hated that it kept ''anything'' from Reach, most notably Armor Abilities (jetpack, surprisingly, at the top of the list) and bloom. On a ''third'' hand are people who wanted it to be exactly like ''VideoGame/Halo2'' or ''VideoGame/Halo3'', with simply more weapons and vehicles.
*** One of the most controversial and base-breaking features was the new custom loadouts and armor-mods. Before they were fully unveiled, someone said they were a bit similar to perks from ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''. This went about as well as expected with the loyalist ''Halo'' fans, who raged endlessly. Even after they were revealed and named, they were still referred to (in bitter tones) as "perks", even though the differences have been shown to be significant.
*** Further complicating things is the "competitive vs. casual" argument. Basically, competitive fans accuse everyone else of being "casual players" (a derogatory term, the way they use it), and, in most cases, assert that casuals have no say in what should be in the next ''Halo'', because "if it's competitive it will please everyone". They often have valid arguments, but most simply lose credibility by raging.
*** The campaign (minus the Cortana drama) seemed hollow and flat to some, both story and gameplay wise. There's also the ''UNSC Infinity'' which is a CoolShip that doesn't do much of anything.
** Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries itself causes this. There are many rabid anti-343 Industries fans, who feel that ''Halo'' as a series is ruined by the changes to story that they've made.
** The real irony is that while one group complain about the subtle similarities to VideoGame/CallOfDuty, Another is complaining about the fact that the franchise has less, and less MilitaryScienceFiction. Some going as far to say ''Infinite Warfare'' is what Halo 4 & 5 should have been.
* Though ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' remains as one of the most beloved series among critics, it has become victim of intense fan debates, sometimes to horrifying degrees:
** ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink''. It's described as the dark horse of the series, both because of its radical gameplay changes and because of its high difficulty, but even a game with this reputation has defenders, especially from the old-school era.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' was either the best or worst thing to happen to the franchise. In some places, it is quietly ignored as a "side story" that "doesn't count" (mostly on [[SeriousBusiness timeline forums]]), while in other places it is hailed as the greatest game in the series. There are also divided opinions on whether the game is better or not than ''Ocarina of Time'', as well as whether the three-day cycle was a good idea. Even among those who love the game, there are conflicting sentiments over which version is superior (Nintendo 64 or Nintendo 3DS), as the latter brought up changes that either enhanced the experience, or made the game feel less special.
** The controversy over ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' is attributed to various reasons. Most of the fanbase appreciated the change in tone and milieu, but another portion decries its lack of difficulty (as if any ''Zelda'' entry besides the two NES games were ever difficult) and/or its LighterAndSofter tone, especially in regards to graphics. The warp songs in the game have also not stopped critics of the game from complaining about how long the sailing sequences take. Most of these criticisms were addressed largely on the Platform/{{Wii U}} Updated Rerelease, to the rejoice of critics and fans alike, but then there are divided opinions of whether the game really needed a re-release in the first place, as well as whether the visual overhaul is better or worse than the GCN graphics.
** There's also the demographic of people who think ''any'' 3D Zelda game is bad and think the series turned for the worst after ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''. Sean Malstrom and his more passionate followers are well-known for belonging to this group, as is Creator/{{Egoraptor}}. The latter is particularly well known for disliking/despising ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Skyward Sword''.
** This came back in full force after the release of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass''. The ''Wind Waker'' fans decried ''Twilight Princess'' as a stale retread of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' and adored ''Phantom Hourglass'' and its touch screen controls. The ''Twilight Princess'' fans complained that ''Phantom Hourglass'' wasn't as serious as its predecessors and that its controls were inferior to traditional D-pad and buttons controls.
** There's also ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', which divided the ''The Wind Waker'' vs. ''Twilight Princess'' split base into ''three'' (the people who dislike the mix of cel-shading and realism as well as the overall changes made in comparison to the previous games, the people who hoped for ''even more changes'' as they felt the game didn't change enough, and people who enjoyed it). And barely a month after its release, near the end of 2011, the official timeline was revealed, causing a major controversy among theorists over its structure and order of games. This and the aforementioned ''Skyward Sword'' divide ruined what was supposed to be a great anniversary celebration (25 years) for the franchise.
** The base gets broken yet ''again'' with the 3DS sequel to the classic ''A Link to the Past'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]'', with the half going "yay" for the first traditional 2D (or 2.5D in this case) Zelda since ''Minish Cap'', and then other half being composed of complainers ragging on that the game's graphics aren't realistic like ''Twilight Princess'' (mostly because of the potential shown by ''Ocarina of Time 3D''), as well as concerns over the unconventional item rental system. The game was better received when it was released, but the debate on the potential of a 3D game resurfaced once again with the reveal of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes Tri Force Heroes]]'' in 2015.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTriForceHeroes'' has divided fan opinions on whether its over-the-top premise and humor are benefitial, detrimental or simply indifferent to its quality. For an specific example on the humor part, in the American version, the game includes a ShoutOut to the doge meme; fans are divided on whether it's a funny {{Woolseyism}} or a gratuitous, unnecessary shoehorn [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece that won't age well]]. In terms of gameplay, the strong focus on the online play as well as the totem mechanic are the primary points of debate.
** Though most fans, for years, were suggesting a crossover game involving ''Zelda'', there are divided opinions on whether ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' (which combines the series with ''Dynasty Warriors'') was or not the best choice to go.
** An issue that frequently appears in the ''Zelda'' discussions is whether or not the series should have voice acting. Many consider it a shame that such a story-heavy series doesn't have voice acting besides VoiceGrunting while others don't want to hear the characters talk, especially after bad experiences such as the cartoon and the CD-i games. There's also debates on whether they should [[SpeakingSimlish speak Hylian]] or English, and what accents the characters should have. Voice acting was later implemented for major characters in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' and its [[VideoGame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity spinoff]] and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom sequel]] (including specific dubs for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese), while Link remained a SilentProtagonist. Whether this was an excellent addition, a flawed attempt at a good idea, or proof voice acting should be avoided is debated. Opinions are likewise split on the decision to keep Link silent. Some see this as a good compromise, while others feel it undercuts the story that all conversations with Link are inherently one-sided.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Fans are divided over the changes made between the [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 first game]] and [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 second game]]: the loss of an inventory system, reduction in the number of powers, the removal of the Charm and Intimidate skills, the change in the way weapons worked (originally an overheat mechanic with infinite ammo, replaced by a "thermal clip" system which effectively adds an ammo mechanic), the Mako replaced by planet scanning, etc. And that's just game mechanics: the storyline is subject to this too.
** For those unfamiliar with the game, ''[=ME1=]'' was a classic hero's journey, the only subversion being that Shepard was already well-known in Alliance circles, no matter what origin you chose. ''[=ME2=]'' went DarkerAndEdgier, with most of the plot consisting of building a team of specialists (with some being mercenaries, assassins and sociopaths) to take on a final, deadly mission. Depending on how you played 1, the plot of 2 could also have quite a few absurd moments. There was also a ''massive'' shift in tone, practically a change in genre. The first game was all about world-building, presented Shepard as operating mostly on their own volition in their search for answers, and contained a huge number of conversations with random civilians that revealed information about how different groups perceived the universe and each other. The sequels almost totally abandoned this for a more straightforward and action focused narrative, played fast and loose with the established rules of the setting (where they didn't outright retcon them), and stripped Shepard of any agency beyond shooting things.
** Cerberus - [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned extremists]] or evil [[FantasticRacism human supremacists]]? On that same regard, how justified is the Virmire Survivor in distrusting Shepard for working for Cerberus?
** The default look for female Shepard, used for advertising the third game and appearing on the Collector's Edition, has turned the fandom into a battlefield. And it's still not as bad as it was when she was blond because a blond Commander Shepard is naught but a Barbie clone. A new poll was eventually held that made her a green-eyed redhead and changed nothing else.
** The inclusion of multiplayer in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', as well as combat that makes the second game's look slow-paced, has raised accusations that the franchise has become a ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' clone. It would probably be less contentious if multiplayer was not required to get the best ending prior to the release of the Extended Cut DLC, which made it possible to get the best ending without playing multiplayer.
** A small flame war erupted over the unveiling of Tali's face. One half admits that while Bioware was obviously lazy in just photoshopping a picture that was public domain they were overjoyed that Bioware finally gave them a look at what Tali looked like under the helmet and were sure they meant no harm. The other half wants to destroy Bioware for their lack of effort in unveiling her face and demanded a full character model just like every other character in the game.
** The (original) endings of the third game, not so much in terms of the quality of the endings themselves (which were deemed unsatisfactory), but in exactly ''how'' vicious the anger regarding them was, with fan-feedback ranging from "Creator/BioWare had a good idea but its execution was flawed" to "[=BioWare=] doesn't care about its fans and they're dead to me". The [[AuthorsSavingThrow Extended Cut DLC]], on the other hand, divided the fanbase sharply between "[=BioWare=] has totally redeemed themselves," "too little too late," and "SoOkayItsAverage." Further divisions rose up when details of a cancelled ending plan and writing team changes were revealed, with some regarding the news as a completely normal occurrence in game development, and others citing it as proof that ExecutiveMeddling ruined the franchise.
** Romances are always a source of fan division, but a rivalry has arisen between fans of the ''Mass Effect 1'' and ''2'' romances. Fans of the first game's romances are split between being angry over Ashley/Kaidan angrily refusing to join Shepard on Horizon and to a lesser extent, Liara being relatively cold and distant and being more understanding. The fans of the ''Mass Effect 2'' romances will frequently say that the romances in the first game were relatively shallow in their eyes and that Ashley and Kaidan were "boring humans" at best or "bitchy", and at worst, "bitchy" and "racist" (Ashley) "useless" (Kaidan) and wrong about Shepard on Horizon, thus concluding that the romances in ''2'' (mainly Garrus and Tali [[note]]who debuted in the first game[[/note]]) are better. The debate got even more intense in the third game, in which, of the six romance options, only Garrus and Tali return to your party, of the remaining four, [[spoiler:Thane dies, Jacob cheats on you and Miranda and Jack have reduced roles]]. This has led to fans of the ''Mass Effect 2'' romances often complaining about how their pairings were pushed aside in favor of the old ones (specifically, Liara), especially considering that in the original ending, [[spoiler:Liara would always be Shepard's last thought if you did not romance the Virmire Survivor]]. On the other hand, those who chose the Virmire Survivor were relatively upset in ''Mass Effect 2'' that they didn't get any closure in that game while the romances in ''Mass Effect 2'' were focused on and that the Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC offer the opportunity to reconnect with Liara and also pointed out that two of the three other love interest party members who returned in the third game were forced in your party with little help of the war gameplay wise other than being a party member. One thing these two groups [[EnemyMine usually agree upon]] though is that Liara gets the most focused out of all the love interests.
** On the subject of Liara and focus, even outside of romances, this is a source of controversy among the fans. One camp loves her character throughout the series, her evolution from naive scientist to information broker [[spoiler: and eventually Shadow Broker]]. Others felt her growth was inconsistent, and found her wishy-washy. Others may have been fairly ambivalent, but felt the camera [[CharacterFocus pulled in too tight on her]] and neglected everyone else. It didn't help that, in the 3rd game, Liara is required for more missions than any other character [[note]]Three, four if From Ashes is played. Tali, if she survived ''Mass Effect 2'', only had two, and Vega only had one and a tiny piece of another, before Liara takes his place.[[/note]]
** The gay option in ''Mass Effect 3'' is controversial: while only a small part of the base were completely averse to the subject, there is the question of whether or not someone who showed no previous inclination towards homosexuality would shift rather abruptly.

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'': Some aspects of the game divided the ''Monster Hunter'' community back in its day. Was the game's release on Nintendo's Platform/{{Wii}} the right choice or not, considering that the previous games were only available on Sony systems? Is the underwater gameplay a great idea or not (and if the former, was it properly implemented or it could have been better)? Does the addition of the Medium Bowguns and Switch Axes compensate the removal of Dual Blades, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow? Should there have been more monsters from previous games, or was it the right choice to present a predominantly new bestiary? Many of these topics were addressed in ''Portable 3rd'' and ''3 Ultimate''.
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4 Ultimate'': Are the Apex monsters a brilliant challenge or do they show that you can take ThatOneBoss [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools too far]]?
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterFrontier'':
*** The issue of whether it's is an awesome game that deserves to be localized for international gamers, or a hilariously broken spinoff that should [[AmericansHateTingle just stay in East Asia]].
*** Monsters from the main series appearing in ''Frontier''. Some people are fine with the main series and ''Frontier'' integrating, while others see a DoubleStandard; sure, monsters from the main series get to show up in the spinoff, but no [[CanonForeigner spinoff monsters]] [[CanonImmigrant sans Hypnocatrice and Lavasioth]] get to appear in the main series?
** The series' CompetitiveBalance being affected by the overall changes in mechanics (new weapons, special moves, monsters and monster abilities, items, armor skills, etc.) is another major point of contention between the fanbase, with some veterans claiming that the newer mechanics have shifted the emphasis away from methodical combat and more into hack and slash territory [[ItsEasySoItSucks in many different ways]][[note]]in effect claiming that some of the FakeDifficulty was actually necessary for the game's mechanical structure[[/note]] while defenders of the changes are claiming that many of the additions were not only needed to breathe new life into the series, but were also necessary for addressing quality of life issues that the original titles had [[FakeDifficulty in spades]].
** Even ''the method of playing the game'' can divide the players. Is it more fun to find ways to [[{{Speedrun}} speedkill]] monsters and therefore [[BoringButPractical avoid tedium and frustration]], or is it more exciting to drag out and analyze the fight in order to show that ugly wyvern [[RuleOfCool some fancy tricks of your own]], [[DifficultButAwesome like cutting off its tail right in the middle of its sure-kill attack]]?
** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'':
*** A contention that arose with the Hunting Arts + Hunting Styles mechanic is the rise of the [[StopHavingFunGuys "Meta Only"]] attitude among a portion of the fans. While the mentality has been present in earlier installments[[note]]some fans will openly berate others for using what they perceive to be "sub-optimal" loadouts in the belief that the game is all about damage and speedkills, even if the party under scrutiny is using a fairly competent setup that simply wasn't meant for speedkilling to begin with -- see the entry on "method of playing"[[/note]], the fact that certain weapon and armor skill combinations work extremely well with certain Art / Style combinations has given birth to a mentality that if you're not using Meta-approved gear and Hunting Art / Hunting Style setups, you might as well not join a lobby.
*** Is the high emphasis on style and action an exciting way to shake up how players hunt, or is it a disservice to the franchise's tried-and-true formula?
*** Is ''Generations''' overhauled upgrade mechanics[[note]]Short version: Upgrading no longer needs extremely rare materials that [[RandomNumberGod practically never drop]]; upgrading now boils down to feeding a weapon materials of a certain category until it Levels Up/Evolves[[/note]] a great way to cut down on the franchise's infamous grind and make the series more accessible for newcomers, or does it alienate older fans by removing a key component of the series that made it unique?
*** [[ItsShortSoItSucks Is there enough content in the game?]] This is [[AmericansHateTingle an especially sore point for Westerners]], as it's been a while since they last received a ''Monster Hunter'' game with no G rank (''Tri''; ''Portable 3rd'' and vanilla ''4'' were [[NoExportForYou skipped over]]) and thus have likely gotten used to games having three rank tiers instead of two. Then there are those who point that there's so many different monsters -- more than ''4 Ultimate'', in fact -- and equipment pieces that the game can be forgiven for it.
*** Are Hyper Monsters more fun to fight than Apex or Frenzied Monsters? Are they at least a reasonable replacement?
*** When it was announced that ''Generations Ultimate'' would add the option to transmogrify two pieces of equipment together, putting the stats and skills of the first item on the model of the second, the reception was mostly positive, with people liking that there would be more diversity instead of [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome everyone wearing one of a few armor sets in the late game]]. However, some people dislike that it removes "Fashion Hunting", the art of coming up with original combinations of armor that both look and perform well.
*** Showing "true attack" like in ''Generations'', ''Generations Ultimate'', vs "bloated attack" like in other games. Basically, in most games, each weapon's true attack is multiplied by a weapon type-specific constant not used in any damage calculations to produce the attack value you see on the screen. Some players prefer having true attack shown since it is the number used in damage calculations and it lets the player see if their weapon is as powerful as it should be given the monster they are hunting. Others prefer bloated attack since while it may not be necessarily ''accurate'', it still gives the player a rough idea of how powerful their weapon is since true attack does not take things like "motion values" (a multiplier applied to each attack move) into account.
** The existence of ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'' (and eventually ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterRise'', as well as their respective expansions) created a permanent rift between fans of "classic" ''Monster Hunter'' and modern. Classic ''MH'' fans prefer its more deliberate gameplay and focus on the monsters, and see ''World'' as [[ItsEasySoItSucks casual garbage]] with a lackluster endgame. Fans of ''World'' prefer its more accessible gameplay and greater detail, and trying to convince them to try older games will lead to responses of "why would I want to play an objectively worse game?" The release of ''Generations Ultimate'' [[SequelFirst after]] ''World'' in the West solidified this, with classic fans cheering that their style of ''Monster Hunter'' is still alive, while those who started with ''World'' or see it as an upgrade in every way scoffing at the idea that Capcom would bother with a game that they view as outdated and not worth localizing anymore.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'':
*** Fans who remember the original straight-forward NES translation were generally disappointed with changes made in the remake's localization: the addition of 'regionalism' which brought ridiculous broken accents in the dialogue, and the changing of most names of people and places to make cultural references or bad puns. But plenty of new players enjoyed them and found the humor charming.
*** The mobile port. To begin this divide, you have fans that are furious that Square Enix decided to put out a lackluster port (the game only works with the screen vertical, there's no controller support, etc.) vs. fans grateful to even have a legal way to get it/support the series after the limited print run of the DS version. (And even then, many are worried that it sends the wrong message to Square Enix to support the series over mobile platforms since the majority of the fans want console rereleases.) Then there's concerns over whether this is a worthy port when it's essentially the DS version vs. this release being the definitive edition because it adds party chat back into the game. However, it should be noted that this port received considerably greater acclaim than the mobile port of VIII because of the features this port added when compared to what VIII lost (VIII lost voice acting and the gorgeous symphonic suite of the American rerelease; IV had the textures spruced up for mobile tablet screen resolutions, the symphonic suite added to the soundtrack and the aforementioned party chat restored).
*** Chapter Six. A welcome expansion of content, including being able to recruit Psaro, or is it a Fix Fic that ruins the tone of the first five chapters, as well as the original game?
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': The reception of ''Your Story''. While a many of people, especially in Japan, are in the camp They Changed It, Now It Sucks!, from not using Akira Toriyama's iconic character designs to the extremely random, out of nowhere meta twist near the end that made the entire movie out to be a VR game that some kid was playing, there are a few who embraced it for its differences, even if not exactly loving everything and point out there were subtle nods to the Isekai twist. From the random in-game footage, the Hero not using a Staff, a mainstay of the V Hero's aesthetic as the only staff user hero in canon materials; to the hero having a name different from any other official materials; to the art/design changes to the title which omits any mention of the brides or even that it's an adaptation of V and suggest that it's "Your [The Player's] Story". Also, it's a reflection on the Fan's relationship with the franchise.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVII'':
*** Dharma Temple/Alltrades Abbey. Some people consider it the Best Level Ever (particularly in the remake where it's more balanced than the original) finding it to be reasonably challenging but not too much so. To these people, the storyline is a truly epic tale involving a missing high priest, an occupied temple, an ordinary man trying to protect his sister from a city of vice, a slightly creepy guard cast out of his position (who turns out to be okay in the end), and three heroes brought down to nothing who have to fight their way out of that city and make things right. It would almost make an excellent game in itself. As for everyone else's opinion...see That One Level below.
*** The fact that the Updated Re-release on the Nintendo 3DS is getting a completely new localization for its international release. Some people welcome this, as they're satisfied enough with the game finally averting No Export for You after close to 3 years, while others are against it due to the copious puns and accents in the dialogue of newer Dragon Quest localizations like IV and IX being annoying to them.
*** When it was found that the international 3DS version replaced the remastered orchestral score with synthesized (albeit still remastered) versions of the music, the base split even further: Some felt ripped-off, some think the decision was Enforced by licensing issues, and others preferred the original soundtrack to begin with.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'':
*** The fact that the 3DS version will [[NoExportForYou not leave Japan]]. On the one hand, some people feel that the 3DS is getting the shaft (since the versions ''do'' have some differences). But on the other, some feel that this is a smarter business choice, due to the fact that the 3DS is in decline outside of Japan, particularly in 2018 (when ''shelf space'' in most brick-and-mortar stores for 3DS software is shrinking). It has become less of an issue when the Switch version was announced to have the ability to play the game with 16-bit SNES style graphics, a mode that was available in the 3DS version but not the [=PS4=] and PC versions.
*** Also, the fact that Square-Enix is publishing. Some who are not fans of the accents used in the Nintendo-published remakes like it, while others think that adds to the charm. This ended up being a bit moot as the game does retain a fair bit of the accent conceit of older titles but pares it down in a lot of cases to not be obnoxious.
*** The soundtrack. Some people take significant issue with the midi soundtrack, feeling that it's a significant downgrade to the orchestral version that was made, but wasn't included because the composer wanted to maximize music and ticket sales instead of letting players hear it in the game. Others are more accepting, feeling that it suits the classic feel of the game. While PC players got a mod that replaces the music with the orchestral version almost immediately and the Nintendo Switch version includes both the MIDI and orchestral versions, 3DS and [=PS4=] owners are currently out of luck. Beyond the MIDI controversy, many fans have derided the actual composition of music as subpar, even when orchestrated.
*** The nature of the post-game [[spoiler: undoes a lot of the character development of the crew in exchange for a happier ending. Some argue that this is disingenuous and that removing said character development is a disservice to the story, with Serena in particular reverting back to her old self and making her emotional triumph kind of pointless. Others argue that this is in the nature of Dragon Quest- to always strive for a better conclusion for our heroes, and that because of the defeat of the TrueFinalBoss, the happier ending is worth it for the struggle it takes to get there.]]
*** The Nintendo Switch version getting announced as the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Definitive Edition]]'', getting extra story content, dual audio options, and even having the full Orchestral OST the [=PS4=] and PC (without mods) versions lacked. This ended up invoking quite a bit of MediaNotes/ConsoleWars sentiment among the community. As it later turned out, [=PS4=] and PC players will get the chance to experience this content over a year later on December 4, 2020, alongside with a new port to the Xbox One.

* ''BrokenBase/FinalFantasyXIV''
* ''BrokenBase/FinalFantasyXV''
* ''BrokenBase/FinalFantasyBraveExvius''

* ''BrokenBase/Halo5Guardians''

* The Grappler archetype in fighting games is almost as controversial as zoners. Most grapplers are [[MightyGlacier Mighty Glaciers]] with a straightforward high-risk, high-reward gameplay where most of the work they have to do is getting in the opponent's face in the first place, but they're rewarded with highly damaging attacks. People who hate grapplers call them braindead [[SkillGateCharacter Skill Gate Characters]] who only has to make a few lucky guesses to win a round, no matter how poorly they were doing beforehand, while grappler mains argue they have to work hard to get to the point where they can start dealing damage and the hate is undeserved since most characters in the archetype have been in the lower side of the CharacterTiers for a majority of fighting games anyway because of their inherent weaknesses.

** Message boards are usually very peaceful... until you make a poll measuring up "Project .hack" (''The World R:1'', [[Anime/DotHackSign SIGN]]'', and [[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games the original four games]][[labelnote:*]]''Infection'', ''Mutation'', ''Outbreak'', ''Quarantine''[[/labelnote]], plus spin-offs) against ".hack Conglomerate" (''The World R:2'' and ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGU G.U.]]'', plus its own spinoffs), leading to an instant flame war. This usually comes down to fans of the ''R:1'' quadrilogy thinking its story is better than ''G.U''[='s=], while ''G.U.'' fans argue that its story was more character-driven. This leads ''IMOQ'' fans to counter that ''G.U.''[='s=] characters and story were all stock archetypes, leading ''G.U.'' fans to retort that most of ''IMOQ''[='s=] characters did nothing for their main story whereas ''G.U.''[='s=] "stock" cast and storylines having shown themselves more resilient by proxy of ''VideoGame/Persona4'', which ''G.U.'' bears great similarity to despite ''Persona 4'' releasing a full year later. For fans who like both entries and view the franchise as just one long ongoing story, these divides generate nothing but headaches. Both sides do agree that ''.hack//Roots'' (an anime serving as a prologue to ''G.U.'') was terrible and undermined the following stories in the ''R:2'' media, a sentiment also shared for ''.hack//XXXX'' (a graphic novel reinterpretation of the original four games).
** Creator/CyberConnect2's announcement of ''.hack//G.U. Last Recode'', a HD remaster and improvement to the ''World R:2'' games, with fans of the first era complaining that their entries are not being remastered, nor made available on the PSN/steam like ''Last Recode'' is on top of the (Japan and Europe-exclusive) physical Disk. Unlike the Fandom Divide however, ''G.U.'' Fans are in agreement with First-era fans that the original games are deserving of a digital release; both due to age and scarcity of ALL of them, and ''G.U.'' having many story points that (while not lacking in understanding about them without knowledge from the first era) are only made better if you have experienced the stories of ALL of them as several IMOQ-era characters have their stories continue and advanced in ''G.U.''
** ''.Hack'' Fans have a similar split on the 'third era' Content of ''.hack//Link'', ''.hack//Quantum'' and ''.hack//Vs'' the world. While most enjoy the last movie, the Quantum OVA is mixed at best due to it's protagonists and shoddy storyline rubbing many the wrong way. As for link...while many consider it the holy grail of unexplored .hack Content and are irritated they weren't allowed their era-crossover game...those who've managed to play it and understand it's content through either translators or Knowing Japanese tell horror stories of it's blatant, obnoxious, and wholely derisive characters Assassination for many of the cast; most notoriously ''.hack//G.U.'s'' Protagonist Haseo being shown attempting to murder the female lead and love interest Atoli as part of Link's Assertion of it's protagonist as a stalwart hero. And that's not even touching how Link and the third era attempt to retcon the entire franchise as being the masterminded manipulations of a group of ecological terrorist that want to download everyone into computers so they would stop harming Mother earth. A retcon everyone seems to dislike.

** On the side of those who hate DLC, complaints about its inclusion and use include how content is often removed from the game in order to sell it for more profit (ex. some missions in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII''); how content can already be on the disc yet still needs to be unlocked (ex. the costumes of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' or characters in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken''), resulting in the more derisive "disc-locked content" acronym for DLC; how content which could be seen as vital (or at least very useful) can be paywalled (ex. the chest in which you can store your equipment in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''); how it's used to separately sell content which reasonably could have been available in the game right from the start (ex. the costumes and arena fights of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''); and how it's sometimes not even legitimately new content, but simply a way to [[BribingYourWayToVictory bribe your way to victory]] (ex. some DLC in ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', which allow the player to gain levels, money, Artes, items, etc. -- which is less "downloadable content" and more "paying cheat codes"). Additionally, some DLC is activation codes which merely unlock the full game, such as with ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' (which prevents you accessing a part of the game if you buy a secondhand copy). Overall, this side sees DLC as a cash machine for the editors, and fear that they are considered as cash cows.

* Whether {{Visual Novel}}s can be considered a game at all, or just a 'book on the PC' sparked some debate. Good luck when the subject of {{Ecchi}} is used as ammo.

** Message boards are usually very peaceful... until you make a poll "Project .hack (The World R:1, .hack//Sign and original 4 games, plus spinoffs) vs. .hack Conglomerate (The World R:2, .Hack//G.U., plus it's own spinoffs)". Then BANG - flame war. This Usually coming down to Infection/Mutation/Outbreak/Quarantine's story being better than G.U's, while G.U. fans point out that it's story was more character-Driven. IMOQ fans counter ''G.U.'s'' characters and story were all stock archetypes, ''G.U.'' Fans retort with most of IMOQ's characters did nothing for their main story and ''G.U.'s'' 'stock' cast and storylines having shown themselves more resilient by proxy of ''Persona 4'', which ''G.U.'' bears Great similarity to despite ''Persona 4'' releasing a full year later. For fans who like both entries and view the franchise as just one Long ongoing story, these divides generate nothing but headaches. Both sides do agree that ''.Hack//Roots'' was terrible and undermined the following stories in the ''R:2'' media. The same for ''.hack//XXXX'' a graphic novel reinterpretation of the original four games.
** Cyberconnects' announcement of ''.Hack//G.U. Last Recode'', a HD remaster and improvement to the ''World R:2'' games, with fans of the first era complaining that their entries are not being remastered, nor made available on the PSN/steam like ''Last Recode'' is on top of the (Japan and Europe-exclusive) physical Disk. Unlike the Fandom Divide however, ''G.U.'' Fans are in agreement with First-era fans that the original games are deserving of a digital release; both due to age and scarcity of ALL of them, and ''G.U.'' having many story points that (while not lacking in understanding about them without knowledge from the first era) are only made better if you have experienced the stories of ALL of them as several IMOQ-era characters have their stories continue and advanced in ''G.U.''

* Various aspects of ''[[OddlyNamedSequel 358/2 Days]]'' have done this to the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' fandom. Especially [[spoiler: Xion]], whom you either hate to death or like her very much and think it's a pity [[spoiler: that she died.]]
** This goes as far back as ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', actually. Most people can agree that the gameplay changes were for the better, but forget about having a civil discussion over Organization XIII. A lot of people simply think they took too much focus away from the main trio. Yet others think that they were a step in the right direction in terms of expanding on the lore of the Kingdom Hearts universe. So, what are they? A classic example of a SpotlightStealingSquad? An entire group made of the EnsembleDarkHorse? You'll get very different answers, depending on where you are and who you're asking.
** ''3D'' has also broken parts of the fanbase thanks to WhamEpisode-style revelations like [[spoiler:Nobodies being able to grow hearts over time, the inclusion of time travel, and even Lea receiving a Keyblade]]. Never mind that Nomura has stated that ''III'' will only be the GrandFinale of the Xehanort Saga. It's also a point of contention that there are so many games in between ''II'' and ''III''. Some fans think that the handhelds are just cash grabs that make the [[KudzuPlot already complicated plot even worse]] and didn't do enough to change the gameplay mechanics, while others believe that the handhelds were necessary to build up to ''III'' and that there are so many cool moments and gameplay additions that they're worthy series entries.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', over whether or not the first or second game is better.

** You can also look at the reaction to ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' being an MMORPG here. Tons of fans are mad about the next [=KotOR=] being an MMO set 300 years after the last game instead of a direct sequel to [=KotOR=] II.
** And while the majority of those upset about ''The Old Republic'' being an MMO have mostly sighed and given up complaining, it wouldn't be an MMORPG without a forum filled with people complaining about game balance, lack of focus on [=PvP=], too much focus on [=PvP=], Game Mechanics, and a host of game-specific issues like Space Combat, Species choices, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking swimming]]. Did we mention the game wasn't even out of closed beta yet?

* The ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'' fandom generally got along pretty well...and then ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireDragonQuarter'' came out, with the fanbase firmly divided between those who loved it and those who hated it with the passion of a thousand suns (even refusing to acknowledge it as being in the series). And seeing as the ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'' franchise hasn't had a new game out since 2005, the Holy Warring has only gotten worse--because a sizable portion of the fandom sees ''Dragon Quarter'' as a FranchiseKiller.

** Basically, every time there is a sequel in the series, the fan base divides itself over whether or not the new game is better than the previous. At first, the sequel is viewed as better, but then becomes hated, and people go back to the previous game. Another sequel comes out, and it happens all over again. Along with that, there are some people who liked it until #4 or World at War, but got tired of how the [[CashCowFranchise franchise was being milked]] by Creator/{{Activision}} and that the series has fallen into ItsTheSameNowItSucks.

** Sean Malstrom inadvertently brought into the woodwork the old-school 2-D platforming Mario fans who derogatorily call 3-D Mario games "Starfinders" in that this is all Mario does in those games against the 3-D platforming Mario fans who argue that finding flagpoles is all 2-D Mario does. When ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros1'' sold like hotcakes, Nintendo became aware of this divide.

** The Koopalings, who began as {{Ensemble DarkHorse}}s and were brought back due to their large popularity in the fandom, have been getting hit with some of this over time. There's a three-way split between those who like them and don't mind them getting more exposure, those who think the franchise is oversaturated with them and that their role as recurring bosses (especially in the platformers) is preventing the games from innovating by introducing new boss characters, and those who don't care one way or the other and just want to play the games, Koopalings or no.

** Should the games be fully-voiced or not? ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'' featured voice acting for cutscenes and major characters however ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' reverted back to VoiceGrunting, largely due to the mixed reception of ''Sunshine'''s voice acting. Fans are mixed on whether they prefer voices, prefer random noises, or don't care.

** UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole
** UsefulNotes/ComputerWars

** The shotguns. The Gnasher has been there since the 1st and it's usually the main source of someone's death. A lot of people still today complain they didn't nerf it enough. And then there's the Sawed-Off. People complain of its cheap one-hit kill, but it's limited with 1 shot per reload, and can only kill you up close. Why is it cheap? It has the insta-kill, that people tend to use when they rush. It's like the Retro-lancer charge, without the manliness. Did we mention the Sawed-Off can kill multiple enemies if they are close enough?

*** Anders is probably the most divisive character in the entire franchise by the end of the game. A mage trying to fight against the Templars (who oppress mages), Anders "removed the chance for compromise"[[note]]his exact words[[note]] by blowing up the [[TheChurch Chantry]] and forcing the issue to the front of the line. He's either a [[InspirationalMartyr revolutionary with a just cause]] or a [[FantasticTerrorists terrorist willing to do anything to push his views]], and asking the fanbase is sure to result in a "Here we go again" alongside [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters essays from both sides]].

From ''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'', to ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', to ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''... it's sometimes easier to list video game fanbases that haven't been [[BrokenBase noticeably fractured]].

** ''SMT'' is one of the few franchises [[CashCowFranchise big]] and [[VideoGameLongRunners old]] enough to have a FandomRivalry with ''itself.'' Main series fans inevitably hate ''Persona'' fans for only playing the LighterAndSofter games and thinking ''SMT'' begins and ends with ''Persona'', some of whom mistakenly believe that ''Shin Megami Tensei'' is a spin-off of ''Persona'' (the reality is the opposite, with ''[[VideoGame/Persona1 P1]]'' being in-continuity with ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' -- a literal WhatIf game [[AlternateTimeline branching off]] from ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI SMT I]]'') or even that Kazuma Kaneko's designs originated from ''Persona'' (whereas his earliest work with the series dates back to ''[[VideoGame/MegamiTensei Digital Devil Story]]'' in '''1987'''). The fact that ''Persona'' would end up [[MorePopularSpinoff eclipsing its parent series in popularity]], including in Japan, makes this a particular sore point for many. ''Persona'' fans hate main series fans for their harsh and immediate judgement towards newcomers, or they may reject the mainline ''Shin Megami Tensei'' games for being too dark, or not having any social sim elements -- ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' was hit by the latter particularly bad, with many negative comparisons to ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''VideoGame/Persona4''. This even extends to specific games: ''[[VideoGame/Persona1 Persona 1]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Persona2 2]]'' fans hate fans of later installments for not even acknowledging the earliest entries of the sub-series, ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne Nocturne]]'' fans tend to see their chosen game as the objectively best despite some archaic mechanics (something exacerbated by ''Nocturne'' indeed turning out to be a ToughActToFollow, the later ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiV SMT V]]'' being a ContestedSequel [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks accused of]] [[RecycledScript rehashing its plot]], and the reveal that the widely praised turn to a WideOpenSandbox for ''V'' was planned as far back as ''Nocturne''), and any mention of who the strongest protagonist might be is bound to start a huge debate. The ''Shin Megami Tensei'' fandom is more like a bunch of unwillingly connected smaller fandoms, really.

** Do video games qualify as art? Does the medium as a whole have enough expressive merit to count? Related to this are the concept of [[ArtGame Art Games]]: creative forms of expression or pretentious trash that goes against the spirit of video games?
** And heaven help you if two or more of the above meet at once - mobile games with micro-transactions being a common example of such.

** [[StandardFPSGuns Sniper rifles]] as equippable weapons in general, particularly in multiplayer [[FirstPersonShooter first-person shooters]]. There will be players who defend them arguing that they are DifficultButAwesome and easily counterable if you know what you're doing, and there will be players who despise them for being irritating, OneHitKill {{Game Breaker}}s that [[HighTierScrappy offer no opportunity for counterplay once a player with good aim gets their hands on one]] -- especially if the player in question is a {{griefer}} with aimbot hacks.

* [[DownloadableContent DLC]] as a whole will lead to two {{Broken Base}}s arguing with each other, with one half despising DLC, and the other half praising them. The fact is that DLC can have a lot of different meanings, DLC can be of ''very'' different types, and the absence of clear legislation about it doesn't really help, leaving the editors to do as they please when they propose DLC:
** On the side of those who hate DLC, we have understandable complaints that a lot of them are:
::-Content removed from the game in order to sell it for more profit, such as some missions of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'';
::-Content already on the disk but that you need to unlock, such as the costumes of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'';
::-Content which could be seen as vital (or at least very useful), such as the chest in which you can store your equipment in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''; or
::-Content which one can reasonably think should have been available in the game right from the start instead of being sold separately as DLC,such as the costumes and arena fights of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'';
::-Not new content, but just a way to [[BribingYourWayToVictory bribe your way to victory]], such as some DLC in ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', which allow the player to gain levels, money, artes, items... which is less "downloadable content" and more "paying cheat codes".
::-Activation codes which simply unlock the full game, such as with ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' which prevents you accessing a part of the game if you buy a second hand copy.
::Overall, this side sees DLC as a cash machine for the editors, and fear that they are considered as cash cows.
** On the other hand, the other side argues that:
::-DLC Can provide new content and fun to a game way after its release, allowing the players to prolong the experience;
::-They might suffer from issues mentioned above, but that doesn't mean all DLC is bad;
::-Release day DLC (or DLC 'removed' from the game or needing to be 'unlocked') exists out of necessity, otherwise second-hand retailers get most of the profit while the developers see none of it;
::-DLC can come about simply to not waste people's time and resources: a video game's code and assets are "locked" between six months and a year before release, and no changes other than bugfixes or other critical changes will be made to allow the company time to bugtest, ensure compatibility and optimize, submit it to ratings groups, and so on. While this is happening, rather than let the designers, artists, and programmers sit around and do nothing the company has them work on DLC -- which, because it is much smaller and usually contains no deep-level engine code, can be tested and approved in parallel with the main game. Thus extra content can be ready at the same time as the main game, whereas adding it to the main game would delay the whole project;
::-What's seen as 'essential' DLC is simply due to a form of hindsight bias: You didn't see it as a missing feature when it wasn't a thing yet, but once it's released now you can't imagine playing without it;
::-You're not forced to buy DLC, and many commit the fallacy that their game isn't 'complete' unless they own all the content (of course, keep in mind YMMV on this depending on what game you're talking about).
::-{{Rhythm Game}}s are a genre where DLC is a generally accepted practice because it allows the developers to add songs onto an existing game, as opposed to the old practice of the player having to wait for a sequel to the game, if one ever comes, to have more songs to play, and then have to switch games if they want to play songs on the other game.

* The original and numbered ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' titles versus ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'', overlapping with FandomRivalry at times. Fans of ''[=DmC=]'' said that it was more accessible, had better art direction, a far easier story plot to follow, and a protagonist that contained character development. Fans that loved the original titles criticized the [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks many changes]] that was implemented, the arguments ranging from criticizing how ''[=DmC=]'' Dante was so [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuoUfyMUQTc drastically different]] compared to original Dante, ''[=DmC=]''[='=]s story being too on the nose and missing the point of the original games' primary themes of how devils can learn to love like humans as well subtly on the theme of family, and the gameplay mechanics that had been overly simplified and lacking ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening DMC3]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 DMC4]]''[='=]s mechanical depth and complexities, just to name a few game-related points. In short, some consider ''[=DmC=]'' worth playing, while others feel it simply doesn't match up to the legacy of the older games. The rivalry had died down somewhat after the 2015 releases of both the Special Edition for ''[=DMC4=]'' and the Definitive Edition for ''[=DmC=]'', but the rivalry flared up again after the [[{{Unreboot}} announcement and release]] of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5''.
** Meta-wise that unfortunately exacerbated the division, Creator/{{Capcom}} at the time had been wanting to reach the same type of sales numbers such as the ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' franchise, and sought to Westernize their games, so the new ''[=DMC=]'' game's development had been outsourced to Creator/NinjaTheory. Part one of the problem was that while Capcom had [[ExecutiveMeddling told]] Ninja Theory to "[[http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/20/capcom-dante-needed-to-be-completely-different go crazy with it]]" on developing ''[=DmC=]'', Ninja Theory also had the tendency to focus "[[TechnicianVersusPerformer cool visuals first]]" instead of working the visuals to match the gameplay, necessitating some of the Japanese Capcom team members to both [[https://www.polygon.com/2013/1/30/3931784/capcom-devs-describe-the-long-distance-romance-with-ninja-theory-that rein in and redirect]] [=NT=] throughout development. Part two of the problem was how [=PR=] was handled. For the longest time after ''[=DmC=]''[='=]s trailer debut in at Tokyo Game Show 2010, no one could nail down if it was a ContinuityReboot or a {{Prequel}} or even an AlternateContinuity, until Capcom finally settled on ''[=DmC=]'' being an AlternateUniverse as of October 2017. Following along the PR issue was how some of the key members from [=NT=] went about promoting the game. Director[=/=]scenario writer Tameem Antoniades had been known to belittle the fans that did not like ''[=DmC=]'', denigrating them in various interviews, and art director Alessandro Taini even went on a rant at the [[https://youtu.be/b_Pz8WiEW4U?t=103 2013 Game Developers Conference]] with a [[https://www.famitsu.com/news/201303/29031133.html slideshow]] of how the original Dante wasn't cool anymore. What also didn't help was how many game journalist websites also [[CriticalDissonance lambasted fans]] of the original titles and ignored most of the legit criticisms pointed out fans of the original titles, where they gave high reviews to ''[=DmC=]'' versus fans [[https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/dmc-devil-may-cry giving it]] [[https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/dmc-devil-may-cry low scores]]. To say that the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfDKhSPSqNA path]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtBTsQYGiDA leading]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zblR1_eLJ2Y up to]] the division being highly complex is an understatement.

* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar 3'' seems to have this verbally. Mostly due to the new weapons in the 3rd one, and minor fixes. Let's start:

* Although most parts of the internet think that ''Genshin Impact'' is just a clone of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' with different characters and enemies, there are some people who thinks that this game was just inspired by ''Breath of the Wild'' and that it's unique enough to not being a clone.
* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei''.
** The fanbase, while not being ''quite'' as broken as Final Fantasy's, is still fairly fractured. First you have the elitists, who only like the older games in the series; it's hard to say where exactly the line divides, though it's either at ''VideoGame/Persona2'', or ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''. Then there's the P3&P4 fanboys/fangirls, who are crazy about those 2 titles, but won't accept anything else, including the previous ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' games. And then there's certain other groups that aren't limited to just P3&P4, but still only like one of the subseries; this can range anywhere from the mainline series, to Persona as a whole, or any of the others (Especially the Ibunroku vs the main series who feels the series has become a case of being shameless fanservice). Of course, it's always possible to just like all or most of the series in it's entirety, but there's less common ground for that than you might think.
** SMT is one of the few franchises big and old enough to have a FandomRivalry with ''itself.'' Main series fans inevitably hate Persona fans for only playing the LighterAndSofter games and thinking SMT begins and ends with Persona, the fact that [[MorePopularSpinoff Persona has gotten more popular]] than Shin Megami Tensei or the fact some mistakenly believe that Shin Megami Tensei is a spin-off of Persona, some of them even believing that Kazuma Kaneko's designs originated from Persona. Persona fans hate main series fans for their harsh and immediate judgement towards newcomers, or they may reject the Shin Megami Tensei games for being too dark, or not having any social sim elements. It even extends to specific games; ''VideoGame/Persona1'' and ''[[VideoGame/Persona2 2]]'' fans hate ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 3]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Persona4 4]]'' fans for not even acknowledging half of the sub-series, ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne Nocturne]]'' fans tend to see their chosen game as the objectively best despite some archaic mechanics, and any mention of who the strongest protagonist might be is bound to start a huge debate. The Shin Megami Tensei fandom is more like a bunch of unwillingly connected smaller fandoms, really.
** And then there are the ones who fight over whether ''VideoGame/Persona3'' or ''VideoGame/Persona4'' was better.
** ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'' has two broken bases. The first: Either this game is loved for being an awesome and funny crossover that all the fans asked for or a stupid excuse for fanservice, with massive {{Flanderization}} and no respect for canon. Second: The fact that it's simply "''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' with Persona characters" caused both fandoms to argue if that's good or bad.
** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' has the change in art-style with [[VideoGame/TraumaCenter Masayuki Doi]] and several notable ''Franchise/KamenRider'' artists as character designers [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks instead of Kazuma Kaneko]]. The game also brings a number of gameplay mechanics that have proven to be polarizing, the most notable one being the lack of a defense stat. Opponents dislike it because it turns the game into RocketTagGameplay: The RPG, whole proponents argue that having both a defense stat and an HP stat that both increase with levels is redundant and enjoy the faster-paced battles.
** The alignments, especially when it comes to which of the [[OrderVersusChaos two extremes]] is better (or rather, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less shitty]]). Of course, given God's and Lucifer's GreyAndGreyMorality properties, this may have been {{intended|AudienceReaction}}.
* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'' quite divided fans betweens compliments and criticisms, and tones became pretty harsh in the first months after the release. Some of the criticism was constructive, but other degenerated into fruitless flamewars. Some really harsh ones involved the perceived presence of "sjw" features and "lgbt propaganda", like a very minor npc that could simply confess not to identify in their birth-assigned gender, if you asked (apparently that triggered many players despite having no influence on the game whatsoever). In turn, some people who tried to criticize other aspects of the game were unfairly compared to the aforementioned anti-lgbt users and accused of hating the game as bigots, in a wall-against-wall for the benefit of none. Besides these sad contrasts, most of the complaints were about [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks the changes]] in the [[CharacterDevelopment depiction of some characters]] and the [[Railroading linear campaign]], the latter regardless of the various different approaches you could use to progress several points of the story. Some dared to say that the beloved classic ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' did the same things and even more, with a linear ButThouMust main quest through the same places (to the point that you cannot refuse to follow Gaelan into his home at the beginning), several returning characters being changed in their representation to better fit the larger narrative (rather than being just carboard figures like in bg1 as WordOfGod said), and the establishment of a canon party that traveled with the protagonist during the first game. Well, they couldn't peacefully discuss with tea and biscuits.

*** Anders is probably the most divisive character in the entire franchise by the end of the game. A mage trying to fight against the Templars (who oppress mages), Anders "removed the chance for compromise"[[labelnote:note]]his exact words[[/labelnote]] by blowing up the [[TheChurch Chantry]] and forcing the issue to the front of the line. He's either a [[InspirationalMartyr revolutionary with a just cause]] or a [[FantasticTerrorists terrorist willing to do anything to push his views]], and asking the fanbase is sure to result in a "Here we go again" alongside [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters essays from both sides]].
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' also fits this bill, although to a lesser extent than ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Some fans think it received more acclaim than it should have and only won Game of the Year because 2014 had a weak batch of games for it to compete with. The main criticism is that Creator/BioWare tried to incorporate the open world aspect of the popular ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas Fallout]]'', detracting from the game's story and characters which are considered the series' strong point.[[note]]Made even more broken by the fact that the game was less a wide open sandbox like Skyrim and more a collection of differing but still stereotypical environments, whose large sizes often felt like padding.[[/note]] Many of the side quests were just fetch quests and there were only five main quests, excluding the prologue and finale. People who didn't like ''Dragon Age II'' think it was a marked improvement over the previous game and a sign the series was bouncing back.
* ''VideoGame/MinecraftStoryMode'':
** There has been some hot debate over whether or not you should save [[spoiler: Petra or Gabriel]] in episode 1. Whoever you save will [[spoiler: become extremely sick]] and whoever you fail to save [[spoiler: will gain amnesia]]. The choice changes the nature of a few cutscenes and {{Dialogue Tree}}s but doesn't have much of an impact on gameplay... which may or may not be why it is so fiercely debated.

** Update patches for bug fixes. Are they a godsend for allowing developers to caulk over {{Game Breaking Bug}}s that slipped under their noses, or do they encourage lazy [[ObviousBeta "release first, fix later"]] practices?

** The mod Knee-Deep In [=ZDoom=] tends to get some degree of arguments going for various reasons, including the expansion of remastered Episode 1 maps which was considered an improvement by many and unnecessary by others, and the boss fight being either a good, climatic showdown with a new monster or a completely ridiculous battle with a [[AGiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere creature that comes with little foreshadowing]].

* The online ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' community has three main multiplayer ports - Skulltag, which supports many of the [=GZDoom=] improvements in a multiplayer environment, allowing for a wider variety of mods; [=ZDaemon=], which, based on an older build of [=ZDoom=], is a blend of newschool and oldschool gameplay, but has a release schedule that rivals ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever''; and Odamex, which is open-source (unlike the first two, although Skulltag is supposed to be open-sourced at some point), and strives for a pure oldschool style of gameplay, with a few newschool features like jumping added but disabled by default. Naturally, there are some deep splits in the community based on what port you prefer to use for multiplayer. It's not as bad as some, but Odamexers don't intermingle with Skulltaggers very often, and [=ZDaemoners=] are generally hated by both of the other camps. It's been getting a bit better, though.
** Doom isn't divided too bad, though there are still those who hate ''VideoGame/Doom3'' and call it a "flashlight simulator" that lacked the fun of the originals, and those who prefer modern games and think ''Doom'' and ''Doom II'' are "outdated". And then there are the arguments over whether VideoGame/Doom2016 was a worthy successor to the original games or not, which includes debates over the viability of [=SnapMap=] as a modding tool. ''Doom 3''[='=]s reputation began improving over time, among those who prefer the classic games, though some debates remain such as whether its shotgun is a good weapon or not; some appreciate its high power, matching the classic Super Shotgun in that a single shell can potentially do the same damage as a rocket, while others hate it for its extremely wide spread, which wastes a lot of that potential beyond [[ShortRangeShotgun extremely close distances]].
** The modding community also has its own nitpicks - some players will gripe over any mod that requires jumping, other become angry at mods that disable jumping (overriding the source port's controls is possible), weapon reloading, amount of detail (some want as much detail as can be packed in, others want it "the way Id did it"), etc.
** The mod Knee-Deep In [=ZDoom=] tends to get some degree of arguments going for various reasons.

** UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars

** Cartridges vs discs. The debate had died out after the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 (except for handhelds) however it has started up again due to the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch using cartridges. Discs are a more standard format and thus cheaper to produce games on, yet cartridges are more durable and can store player data on the game medium instead of requiring the player to use separate storage space (e.g. memory card or console hard-drive).

** A few fans wanted the game to be on UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS Virtual Console instead of just UsefulNotes/WiiU, either due to lack of a Wii U, desire for portability, or otherwise. Other fans once again tell them to be glad another ''[=EarthBound=]/MOTHER'' game is being released overseas in the first place. They also point out that since ''Mother 3'' is a GBA game, if it's localized and released on Virtual Console in the coming future, it will likely be on Wii U, which would conveniently make all three games playable on the same console, the Wii U.

** The controversy over ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' is attributed to various reasons. Most of the fanbase appreciated the change in tone and milieu, but another portion decries its lack of difficulty (as if any ''Zelda'' entry besides the two NES games were ever difficult) and/or its LighterAndSofter tone, especially in regards to graphics. The warp songs in the game have also not stopped critics of the game from complaining about how long the sailing sequences take. Most of these criticisms were addressed largely on the UsefulNotes/{{Wii U}} Updated Rerelease, to the rejoice of critics and fans alike, but then there are divided opinions of whether the game really needed a re-release in the first place, as well as whether the visual overhaul is better or worse than the GCN graphics.

** In general, the worst extremes of either side of the "old vs. new" debate over whether or not the changes brought in the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS era were for the best or not.

*** The series is traditionally [=PlayStation=] exclusive (to a degree, as the series has appeared on multiple consoles as a result of ports or the ''HD Collection''), but ''The Phantom Pain'' debuting on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 ''and'' UsefulNotes/XboxOne is atrocious to some fans. Others think it's a fantastic way for the franchise to expand and grow more popular.

** Although all Spyro fans agree that 2002's ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' was a [[ObviousBeta highly glitchy, painful-to-play failure]], the fanbase is still divided over 2004's British entry ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail''. To some, it's a simplistic rehash of the classic trilogy bursting with franchise clichés (though still an improvement upon ETD), while to others, it's an underappreciated, diverse game with great graphics and beautifully-written music that make it worth playing through at least once for fans of the purple dragon. The same applies to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance games made by Digital Eclipse, to some they are great underrated games that are faithful to the original Insomniac trilogy, while others dislike the isometric perspective, or see them as uninspired rip-offs of the originals.

* Creator/{{Nintendo}} fans in general have broken themselves once the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} came along. Are motion controls an innovative new direction or a cheap gimmick? Should Nintendo be pushing new [=IPs=] and courting third parties, or focusing on quality first-party games from established franchises? Whose fault is it that third-party and Mature games on the Wii just plain don't sell? Nintendo's, the developers', or the game-buying public's?
* The UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube. You either think that it was a wonderful but underappreciated console or it was one of Nintendo's biggest mistakes. Supporters defend by pointing out the amount of ignored good exclusives while detractors criticize how [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks different those exclusives are from their Nintendo 64 counterparts.]]
* The UsefulNotes/WiiU broke the Nintendo fan base even further when it was shown to have a tablet-like controller. Fans either like the new controls or hate it for being too much like an [=iPad=].

** Back during the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube era, there were debates over the changes and aspects of ''Mario'' games like ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'', most specifically whether the changes were welcoming or not. In the latter's case, even the detractors are unable to agree on whether the changes (specifically the introduction of FLUDD, the tropical setting of the game and the bigger emphasis on item collection) ruin the essence of ''Mario'' or, on the contrary, don't make it evolve enough like the innovations of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' did.

** With ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' being on the UsefulNotes/WiiU, the fanbase has divided more between people who only want non-linear games, like ''64'' or ''Sunshine'', on home consoles and people who don't mind the linear titles. Even referring to them as "linear" and "non-linear" is divisive.

* ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' fans are split on wether the many gameplay and cosmetic changes in the [[VideoGame/SupremeCommander2 sequel]] streamline the experience and make it more enjoyable or utterly gutted it of everything that made it worthwhile and unique. Major points of contention are the simplified economy and the research system, although the weaker graphics and smaller unit selection are also frequently brought up. And the game uses UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, with most anti-Steam threads complaining about updates and such, that it was published by Square Enix (apparently they were responsible for the improving/neutering of the game, that Creator/GasPoweredGames developed the Xbox 360 version in-house instead of [[PortingDisaster outsourcing it like last time]], supposedly dumbing down the game, etc.

** Those who like ''Civilization 2'', those who like ''Civilization 3'', and those who like ''Civilization 4''. The announcement that UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} will be mandatory in ''Civilization 5'' really broke the base. Same goes for the simultaneous announcement about DownloadableContent. Upon the release of ''Civilization 5'', it's proven to be the greatest base-breaker in the history of the franchise and has dwarfed any and all previous division. Opinions range from it being genius that at worst needs some refinement which will come with patches and expansions, to it being an atrocity so at odds with what Civ is meant to be that it's almost fraudulent to give it the name ''Civilization'' and something that is beyond repair even with years of work. Battle lines seem to be specifically drawn between ''Civ 4'' fans and ''Civ 5'' fans, because of the massive changes to many long standing and in some cases much loved game mechanics. ''Civ 4'' fans generally believe TheyChangedItNowItSucks and say ''5'' is an attempt to dumb down the franchise for the masses, and that the "one unit per tile" mechanic is unrealistic and fiddly, and worse, it was implemented [[ArtificialStupidity without thinking about whether the AI could be taught to use it]]. ''Civ 5'' fans think the series had grown stale and too micromanagey by ''4'', and that ''5'' streamlined it for the better, and that fighting in ''Civ 4'' consisted of throwing your army at the enemy's and hoping yours was stronger, or your choice of units and upgrades could counter your opponent's well. The fact that ''Civ 5'' was developed by the same team who did ''Civilization Revolution'' for consoles also injects a layer of PC vs. Console gamer to the fighting.

** ''VideoGame/StarfoxAdventures'': Total waste of time and not enough Arwings or lovable new game mechanic and show of the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube's abilities? Nobody can tell. Another point of debate is Krystal. Long overdue [[TheSmurfettePrinciple female character]], or a boring love interest and UsefulNotes/FurryFandom bait to boot? There's also the small-but-dedicated ''Dinosaur Planet'' (the cancelled game that ''Star Fox Adventures'' is based on) fandom who either think the finalized game was good or that it was terrible and shouldn't have been made into a ''Star Fox'' game.

** The shattered fan base also shattered themselves further when Notche had announced that Minecraft would be coming to the UsefulNotes/XBox360. Fans declared that Minecraft was now utterly ruined because they felt Notch either sold out or would make the game appeal more to the frat boy FPS fans.

* Step one: Mention UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} on the forums for the [[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]. Step two: Watch the normally amicable and helpful forum turn into a war zone.

** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'': Some aspects of the game divided the ''Monster Hunter'' community back in its day. Was the game's release on Nintendo's UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} the right choice or not, considering that the previous games were only available on Sony systems? Is the underwater gameplay a great idea or not (and if the former, was it properly implemented or it could have been better)? Does the addition of the Medium Bowguns and Switch Axes compensate the removal of Dual Blades, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and Bow? Should there have been more monsters from previous games, or was it the right choice to present a predominantly new bestiary? Many of these topics were addressed in ''Portable 3rd'' and ''3 Ultimate''.

* ''[[VideoGame/PanelDePon Planet Puzzle League]]'' allows you to use the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS stylus to move blocks, instead of the series-traditional method of using the control pad and a button. This can be used in online matches without penalty. Considering that a lot of veterans started out with the original ''Panel de Pon'' / ''[[DolledUpInstallment Tetris Attack]]'' on the SNES, this feature is VERY controversial.

* A point of contention amongst ''VideoGame/UnderDefeat'' players is whether the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast or the HD port on UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 is better. Those in favor of the former cite its {{arcade perfect|port}} properties, as the arcade version was released on Sega NAOMI hardware, which allows for a very easy port to the Dreamcast, and take issue with the differences in enemy placements and timings in the HD ports, as well as the introduction of slowdown (on consoles one generation later, no less). Those who prefer the latter enjoy the better visuals and the addition of new modes and soundtracks, even if it's not a 1:1 port which is something that shouldn't matter to players who aren't very competitive about scores and have never played the arcade version.

* When the New UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS XL was announced to come with no AC adapter (with that becoming a separate purchase instead), half of the fanbase were disgusted at having to purchase the adapter separately and felt that the adapter is an integral part of a handheld game system package, while the other half pointed out that the lower price of the new system offset the lack of included adapter, with some upgrading from previous 3DS models actually thankful and arguing that since they already have adapters from their old 3DS units, there's no need to pay for the cost of a new adapter again.
* The UsefulNotes/XBox360, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, and [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame NESiCAxLive]] ports of ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'' feature some slightly changed enemy patterns. Some dislike it because of DamnYouMuscleMemory and rendering scores non-comparable to those of the Sega NAOMI, UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, and UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube versions, while others fail to see the problem either due to having never played the earlier versions or not playing the game as competitively as those who take issue with it.

* The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES Classic Edition]]. On one hand, "why buy this when you can just emulate?", not helped by the system's fixed catalogue; on the other hand, given the amount of games it has and the price point, some feel that it's worth the cost.
* While UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} is widely regarded as the greatest thing to happen to PC gaming since sliced bread, it's had its share of divisive elements:

* UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch Online has been a heated topic ever since it was announced, moreso when the service became paid in September 2018. Proponents of the service being paid argue that the cost is low enough at 20 USD a year, less for those who group up for a 35 USD / year family plan, while opponents call it anti-consumer, is still unfair to those who don't have means to top up their Nintendo accounts, and is not worth it due to not markedly improving the quality of online play. Any discussion of this topic inevitably leads to verbal poop-flinging; you're pegged as either [[CapitalismIsBad an asshole who supports greedy business practices and is part of the game industry's problems]] or an UngratefulBastard and nothing in between.

*** The Nintendo Switch version getting announced as the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Definitive Edition]]'', getting extra story content, dual audio options, and even having the full Orchestral OST the [=PS4=] and PC (without mods) versions lacked. This ended up invoking quite a bit of UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars sentiment among the community. As it later turned out, [=PS4=] and PC players will get the chance to experience this content over a year later on December 4, 2020, alongside with a new port to the Xbox One.

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'' quite divided fans betweens compliments and criticisms, and tones became pretty harsh in the first months after the release. Some of the criticism was constructive, but other degenerated into fruitless flamewars. Some really harsh ones involved the perceived presence of "sjw" features and "lgbt propaganda", like a very minor npc that could simply confess not to identify in their birth-assigned gender, if you asked (apparently that triggered many players despite having no influence on the game whatsoever). In turn, some people who tried to criticize other aspects of the game were unfairly compared to the aforementioned anti-lgbt users and accused of hating the game as bigots, in a wall-against-wall for the benefit of none. Besides these sad contrasts, most of the complaints were about [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks changes in the depiction of some characters]] and the [[Railroading linear campaign]], the latter regardless of the various different approaches you could use to progress several points of the story. Some dared to say that the beloved classic ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' did the same things and even more, with a linear ButThouMust main quest through the same places (to the point that you cannot refuse to follow Gaelan into his home at the beginning), several returning characters being changed in their representation to better fit the larger narrative (rather than being just carboard figures like in bg1 as WordOfGod said), and the establishment of a canon party that traveled with the protagonist during the first game. Well, they couldn't peacefully discuss with tea and biscuits.

** TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate