I think the bigger issue I've got is the definition of "broken game". The majority of that is hyperbole: something that is broken is defined as something that cannot perform its function whatsoever as opposed to performing poorly. A car is not "broken" if it can turn on and go from point A to point B. Yet, a car can be in such poor condition that the drive from point A to point B is problematic or uncomfortable (like a wobbling wheel or something lol).
Example: CP77 is a game I reviewed on XSX. Buggy af, the most buggy game I've ever played, but not broken: I was able to fully complete the game. Last gen console users had a hell of a time (though many DID still complete the game), but of course they've also long fixed that as best they can. And I also bought CP77 on PC just to see it fully maxed out at 60fps (which is absofuckinlutely a shining example of what kind of graphics engine they've actually built and why it struggled to be scaled BACK enough for last gen consoles!). So while people throw around the words "broken" and "unplayable", oftentimes that's just hyperbole for being pissy.
Secondarily, BF2042 is another game where this hyperbole exists. It, too, had bugs where joining matches would result in being stuck in the lobby (this primarily happened with Breakthrough), but ran rather well for me. Therein lies another interesting thing: we're talking 128 players on a map, sometimes 50-60 of those people are all vying for a single capture point. This brings out the inherent weaknesses in people's PCs or the consoles, and sometimes these things simply "go away" because hardware gets better and/or people upgrade their PCs. I'd know this because I've been in PC gaming since the Counter Strike days. And of course, that petition to get refunds? Come on, there are people who are enjoying BF2042 and it's running perfectly fine that are signing that because of greed: they just want a free game.
So in the end, my point is that just how many GENUINELY broken games have been released? Not many. How many games have been released that needed more time to bake? Tons. With that distinction in mind, I find "gamers" use the words "broken" and "unplayable" to define things incorrectly. Many games will continue to release in states where more polish is needed, but the reality is that it was released because under the right hardware/conditions, the game is perfectly playable just like many people drive shit cars to work everyday lol
