I think it brings awareness. Which is needed to change the culture. I do think it’s weird to gain financially but I don’t think it’s the only “benefit” of making a show.
I am a FFXIV raider. Gear has been earned. But there is now a lack of culture. The game has lost it’s way. It might not be the game though. It might be all MMOs.
Gamers tend to think of things as quests. A box to check off. A completionist. Getting married and having kids is part of life’s quests for many people. It’s not seen as collaboration in many ways.
14 is going down hill. I have played it for many years and cleared a lot of the harder content. It’s a lot of rinse, wash, repeat. 15 had some beautiful graphics but it dropped the ball in the open world. 16s battle system was fun. The story was good. Had a decent Gothic roots of fantasy in there.