You're not imagining it. There's definitely a shift toward adaptive game design, especially in live-service and multiplayer titles. Developers are realizing that letting players influence mechanics and dynamics boosts engagement. I came across a great read on how this trend is affecting even niche genres—like in crash-style games, where devs are tweaking pacing, visuals, and risk-reward systems to match audience behavior. The article over at
https://www.spoilertv.com/2025/05/how-c ... mized.html with specific examples. Worth a look if you're curious how games are evolving from static experiences into something much more interactive and community-driven.