Gaming, and also comics and other "nerdy" interests, are formerly niche hobbies that have become more mainstream in recent years.
There is definitely a group of fans who took some form of comfort in the previously "exclusive" nature of the hobby, who perhaps are now realizing that they may not be top dog as new blood comes into the fanbase. They preferred the old exclusionary model because it made them feel special and powerful over the more inclusionary modern reality.
This kind of mindset is rip for corruption by racist, sexist, etc. mindsets. These are people literally being told "You can be special again once we get rid of all these others"