I saw this mechanism occur directly with the game Team Fortress 2, released in 2007/8. At first, you had to use the "server browser" which had a big list of se

I saw this mechanism occur directly with the game Team Fortress 2, released in 2007/8. At first, you had to use the "server browser" which had a big list of servers. They had various plugins, maps, and customization, and each one had a group of "regulars" who knew each other, the moderators of the server, etc. At some point (2013/14, I think?) they implemented a "quick-play" system which would deposit you into a random server. They quickly tightened it to exclude servers with any type of customization or plugins, and then eventually added "stock" servers. My community server eventually totally dried up. You used to have to wait half an hour to get in when it was at its prime. I met several people from the server in real life. It's like any other social place really. People making friends with strangers requires repeated contact, with the same group of people, in the same place/context.