First, as gamers get older and have a broader range of responsibilities and pursuits, they are less likely to rate any particular gaming activity as “extremely important/enjoyable”. Thus, their overall gaming profiles might appear deflated, but the relative order of their motivations would still be revealing.
Second, lower scores on these motivations aren’t necessarily “less” of a motivation. For example, low Excitement implies a specific kind of gameplay, and calm/stress-free gameplay is no less valid than fast/stressful gameplay. The same is true for preference for solo play (as opposed to highly social play). The appeal of solo play isn’t any “less” of a gaming motivation than social play.
I definitely see this happening already. When they mention competition I just don't get it. I don't care about the long haul. A multiplayer match on a weekday night is fine. I see in games like Street Fighter V and even Tekken 7 that I can just get on and hopefully get a match. It's not going to be lobbies with friends unless I'm incredibly lucky and get a group together who plays on weekends or something. Otherwise I'll be completely random because I get on after I work.
I still play what I can. I finished the majority of games I buy and some I'm just not too compelled to finish. I plan to finish Dark Souls 3 and Uncharted 4... the list can continue and continue.
I work with guys who don't understand why those videos of Battlefield 4 players making kills from jumping out of jets. They don't get why people spend that many hours, but they also love video games. They're really into gaming. It just doesn't interest us when we talk about professional gaming at all.
We don't want to wait to see if we can beat another person. I look at the teams for major league gaming and they're all young. They are all doing their own thing while I'm at work. I get off work and I don't necessarily want to compete. I want to sink my teeth into a game without having to use the gamer lingo.
It is what it is. What sucks is that one year we're all going all out for a hot new release and now it's sorta under the radar. Whoever plays whatever they play is it.
We all might show up and play a game around the time another OT comes up, but chances are it might be a hit or miss till then. I played a good 10 hours of Halo 5 multiplayer, but I think that might be it. I'll probably pick up the next CoD and finish that, but as far as BO3 is concerned it's not installed anymore and neither is Advanced Warfare.
Now before someone tries to call me out for being off topic. I enjoy games now more than ever. I own more games I'm proud of owning, but I do see it sorta declining now that I'm 30. It's sad. I don't see too many people having the same opinion as me, but I do work with some cool people who do. The thing is, they are different from my tastes.
They don't sink their teeth into a huge game unless they're incredibly excited about it. They enjoy multiplayer, but not the kind you'd find all over the internet. It's very much different. I still have games preordered like I have for the last 20+ years, but that's just me. I get to them when I will get to them. I see the point in taking the time off for a game because I work Mon to Fri.
I just don't see too many people around me agreeing with me to be honest. I don't want to bring up a tournament or something. It's just a casual conversation about a popular game or something that's coming out. I don't care to compete or look up articles unless of course it really peaks my interest. It feels like that younger gamer pro is the main target.
All you see are kids who were probably in elementary school when Zelda: OOT came out getting all the free swag, free PC gear, and they're trying to become an icon. I kinda throw my own shame at that because it doesn't interest me at all.
Edit: I don't think it's declining as far as my enjoyment. I'm just so picky about what I want. It's hard sometimes finding the right news to go to because a lot of it seems like its some else's job and I feel really left out.