Is the Let's Play dead?

A format that once defined YouTube in the mid-2010s now feels like it's become a smaller and smaller piece of this digital empire.

How did this happen? Why did this happen?

And more importantly, is there anything that can be done to save it?

Hello, Internet! Welcome to Game Theory, the show that is back on the green screen, and you know what that means?

It's time for another fun meta-discussion about the gaming world.

You've all seen the title, you've all seen the thumbnail, and the cold open, I hope.

Don't tell me you skipped it.

Go back and watch it. I hit a secret in there for you and everything.

And for those of you who did watch it and found that secret, thanks.

Good job.

This video's main topic is the let's play dead.

It may seem like a strange question to ask.

In its simplest form, a let's play is someone recording themselves playing a game and also

recording either their voice or their face so that the audience can get their reactions,

as well as capturing silly moments.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

What is this?

Videos like this were everywhere in the 2010s.

They launched tens of thousands of careers

and were the gold standard of YouTube. So why am I asking if the genre is dead? Well,

the truth is, I'm not the only one. I've seen this question pop up a few times over the last

...