When The Game of Nerds first launched over a decade ago, fandom looked very different. If you wanted to watch your favorite shows, you needed a cable package, a DVR, and maybe one or two premium subscriptions like HBO or Starz. Watercooler discussions were centered around a handful of shows—whether it was Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, or Breaking Bad.

Back then, the biggest “choice” you had to make was whether you were willing to shell out extra for premium cable. Streaming existed, sure—Netflix was just finding its footing with original programming—but it was far from the dominant force it is today.

Fast forward to 2025, and the entire entertainment landscape has been turned upside down. Cable is on life support. Streaming has taken over. And with every network, brand, and even franchise creating their own app or service, fans aren’t feeling empowered by all this choice—they’re feeling exhausted.

Welcome to streaming platform fandom fatigue.

The Rise of Streaming: A Quick Flashback

In the early 2010s, streaming felt revolutionary. Netflix was dropping entire seasons at once (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black), Hulu gave us next-day access to cable shows, and Amazon Prime dipped into originals.

Fans loved it. Instead of waiting week to week, you could binge an entire series in a weekend. Instead of paying $150 for a bloated cable package, you could cut the cord and pick your favorites for a fraction of the price.

Fandom thrived during this transition: live-tweeting binge drops, staying up late for Stranger Things premieres, and discovering hidden gems through word of mouth. Streaming felt like a dream.

Where We Are Now: The Streaming Explosion

Fast forward ten years, and the streaming dream has turned into a streaming nightmare. Nearly every major company has their own platform:

  • Disney+ (with Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, etc.)
  • Max (the rebranded HBO, with DC, HBO Originals, Discovery, and more)
  • Paramount+ (Star Trek, Nickelodeon, MTV, CBS content)
  • Peacock (NBC’s playground with The Office and sports)
  • Apple TV+ (premium originals only)
  • Amazon Prime Video (still hanging on with tentpole shows like The Boys)
  • Netflix (still the giant, but no longer the only player)

And that’s just scratching the surface. Even niche fandoms have splintered into separate apps—anime fans juggling Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, and Netflix’s anime slate; sports fans spread across ESPN+, Peacock, and Paramount+.

What started as a cost-effective, fan-friendly alternative has morphed into something cable-like: expensive, fractured, and frustrating.

The Fan Experience: Too Much Choice, Too Little Joy

For fans, this explosion of platforms has created a strange paradox. On paper, more content should mean more joy. But in practice, it’s overwhelming.

  • Content Overload: There are too many shows dropping at once. Even the most dedicated fans can’t keep up with Marvel’s endless slate or Netflix’s weekly drops.
  • Subscription Fatigue: To watch your fandom’s shows, you may need three or four separate subscriptions—often totaling more than an old cable bill.
  • Fragmented Fandom: Back in the day, everyone tuned into the same Sunday night episode. Now, fandom discussions are splintered across apps and platforms, making it harder to find communal viewing moments.
  • Cancellations & Abandonment: Shows are being canceled faster than ever, sometimes mid-season, because of algorithmic decisions. Fans who commit emotionally feel betrayed when platforms pull the plug. (Looking at you, Netflix.)

Instead of feeling like we’re in control of our viewing experience, fans often feel like we’re running on a hamster wheel just trying to keep up.

Nostalgia: When Fandom Was Simpler

When TGON first started, fandom felt more communal. If you were a Game of Thrones fan, you knew Sunday nights were sacred. If you were into Doctor Who, you gathered for live broadcasts or set the DVR. Even premium shows like Outlander or Spartacus on Starz had loyal, weekly appointment viewing.

It wasn’t perfect, but there was a shared rhythm. Even across different cable networks, fans felt like they were experiencing content together.

Now? A Disney+ fan might be watching Ahsoka while a Paramount+ fan is deep into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Netflix drops entire seasons in one go, while Apple TV+ insists on weekly releases. Fandom discussions have become fractured by timing, platforms, and release strategies.

How Streaming Fatigue Impacts Fandom Culture

The streaming boom hasn’t just changed how we consume—it’s changed how fandom behaves.

  1. Binge vs. Weekly Wars: Fans debate whether binging kills hype or if weekly releases build it. Some fandoms burn hot for a weekend and vanish. Others simmer over months.
  2. Lost Discovery: With cable, you could stumble across shows while channel surfing. Now, discovery is algorithm-based. If it doesn’t surface on your app, you might never know it exists.
  3. Shorter Show Lifespans: Streaming platforms are ruthless with cancelations. Fans hesitate to commit because shows are axed before they find their footing.
  4. Event Fandoms Are Rare: Think back to Game of Thrones or even Lost. Few shows today capture that universal, cross-platform, can’t-miss energy. (House of the Dragon and Stranger Things are exceptions, not the rule.)

What’s Filling the Gap?

Despite fatigue, fandom always finds a way to adapt. Here’s how fans are shifting:

  • Selective Subscribing: Many fans now “platform hop,” subscribing to Disney+ for Loki, then canceling until the next Marvel drop. Binge, then bounce.
  • Physical Media Resurgence: Believe it or not, DVD and Blu-ray sales are creeping back as fans realize streaming isn’t forever. (Looking at Westworld fans after HBO pulled it.)
  • Niche Communities: Fans are turning to Discord servers, Reddit threads, and fan-run forums to find others watching the same shows.
  • Alternative Fandoms: Collectibles (Labubu, LEGO, Funko), tabletop games, and conventions have become bigger fandom hubs since streaming content feels less permanent.

Is There a Way Out of Streaming Fatigue?

The million-dollar question: will things get better?

Some experts predict consolidation. Smaller platforms may fold into bigger ones (we’ve already seen Hulu and Disney+ merge content). Fans may end up with fewer apps, but bigger catalogs.

Others suggest platforms will pivot toward event television—fewer shows, but higher quality, with a push to create that communal fandom energy again. Think House of the Dragon or The Last of Us.

But until then, fans will continue navigating the chaos, deciding which platforms are worth the price, and reminiscing about the days when cable—love it or hate it—kept fandom simpler.

Final Thoughts: The Price of Choice

Streaming promised freedom and flexibility. Instead, it’s left many fans overwhelmed, overcharged, and disconnected.

From TGON’s perspective, it’s wild to look back on where we started—a time when fandom was centralized across a few cable channels and premium networks—and compare it to today’s fragmented landscape. The irony? For all the progress streaming has made, the fan experience sometimes feels less fun, less unified, and less sustainable.

So is there such a thing as too much choice? For fandoms today, the answer seems to be yes.

Until the streaming wars settle down, fans will keep making tough decisions—what to watch, what to skip, and what platforms to support. And maybe, just maybe, the future of fandom will circle back to what it’s always been about: not where we watch, but the joy of sharing stories together.