mobile games outselling handheld games 10-1

Yeah, pre-order bonuses are another growing issue in the industry. Giving extra goods is nice, if it's not important, like physical goods, but not holding off rather big content, like extra characters. Mortal Kombat's pre-order bonus being Goro was one example I remember that just really leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

Delays.

After reading every response so far I am very pleased to say that I agree with each and every point other commenters have already made (safe for male characters and delays, sorry). I read these posts and thought to myself "oh right, that is terrible!" and then comes the next one and I think the same, and then again, and again. I agree ESPECIALLY with everything what Shadow1980 wrote. This is precisely on point. I really like this thread!

This interests me. Did you think of some specific games here?

When the designers seeks to control the experience at the loss of player freedom, because they're so afraid that the player will choose "wrong" and the game becomes unbalanced.

For example Witcher 3 which limits so much of the customization and RPG systems and mechanics, that trying to influence them has no effect. No matter what skills you choose, what gear you try to find, what gear you equip, or how much you explore and kill enemies, the outcome will be exactly the same, Geralt will be just as powerful and effective as if you had ignored all skills, stats and items altogether and just mindlessly rushed through the game.

This effectively turns the game from an RPG to an action-adventure games.

Dragon Age: Inquisition started with similar restrictions as Witcher 3, just not as dramatically.

With the enormous success of Witcher 3 I am afraid that its game design will influence future games from Bethesda and Bioware, where their classic RPG's will be transformed into action-adventure games instead, and essentially dumbed down.

Online only.
Broken games that needs 100 patches.

"complete editions" that has codes instead of everything on disc.

It seems with most games, even many of Nintendo's who long resisted this trend, it can take up to an hour before you're really playing a darn game and are done with the cutscenes and tutorials.

Having to pay for online. Thats some bullshit bro.

Filler content, rpg lite mechanics in games that don't need them, camera that already points/hints to where you need to go, impatient sidekicks that already tell you what to do next while you're trying to look around for a minute, quantity over quality of encounters, chest high walls.

This  might be the best one.  "Complete Edition*"

*Complete edition only complete if you have access to internet and the ability to download multiple GB files without worry about your internet service hitting you with an overage charge or just plain shutting you off for pulling too much water from the spout persay.  Also, please allow enough time for our throttled network to deliver this data at a trickle of what your ISP promises you have for speeds.  We do have other clients after all!