Even table games before that served much the same purpose, similar with sports and some hobbies. It's much easier to talk about something or over something while engaging in an activity. They provide a default topic, a medium, a space and a diversion from unwelcome topics when needed; an agreed upon means of social interaction.

I have three close friends who are abroad and we game once every weekend but we never really talk about what's going on in the game. We just chat

So?

Man, you can't have shit nowadays.

It's no different than being at a pub or sports really. A focused activity to keep the mind engaged and allow for other unrelated things to surface as the conversation evolves

Not sure about whether anyone needed an excuse, but yeah. Gaming is social. It’s funny how some people don’t really know, and think about gamers “isolated in their rooms playing video games!” when it is often a very social activity.

ironically the game i've enjoyed most is deep rock galactic, where the whole schtick is that you just pop into missions with random people and communicate almost solely via pointing at things and shouting about minerals.

every single time i've been in a voice call with someone online it has been absurdly uncomfortable and i've just wanted to jump out of my skin and run away, i cannot fathom how people even tolerate it.

Pffft I'm a dude and I talk to my bestmate on the phone for hours every day, his wife calls me his mistresses.

Hmmm, interesting theory. I think that is a big reason I don't do the headphones/multiplayer games - the idea of having to argue with other guys all night long. Life is aggravating enough. But then again I don't even really use my cellphone because I hate the idea of checking it or having to call people. I guess I'm a hermit. But I still love video games, I just do them solo so I can do my own thing.

NGL I always hoped Discord would be more... Diverse in its topics? Most discords have like all these gaming channels and one or two lonely hobby or selfies channels. Our social media is so bad at helping us.

Used to do this in my late teens. Now almost 40 and miss it very much.

We have a weekly D&D/rpg session that we’ve kept pretty consistently since the pandemic hit however many years ago. It’s sometimes the only chance I get to socialize outside of work or family during the week. I really don’t care for just “hanging out” and talking randomly, I need something else to be going on, some other excuse to be talking with people, gaming gives me that.

Relevant VLDL https://youtube.com/watch?v=uBKp-oQYTWU