The game industry is not zero sum, but a game series is. If a company made a new IP based around nerf guns and cell shaded graphics then nobody would complain.

The game industry is not zero sum, but a game series is. If a company made a new IP based around nerf guns and cell shaded graphics then nobody would complain. However if the next call of duty changed all weapons to nerf guns and used cell shaded graphics people would go ape-shit on it because it killed their beloved series. If the switch to nerf guns came as a result from gun-ban activists then people would send death threats to said gun-ban activists for killing their beloved series. This behavior is stupid and insane, yes, but it isn't as random or unreasonable as many think it is.