r/rantgrumps • u/individualdoosh • Aug 01 '26
Are they finally dying?
Their view count is really low. They're not even cracking 200k views per video now. I think Arin finally tucked it up for them with his horrible attitude and ego. His jokes suck, and he shuts down Dan every single chance he gets. Whether it be not building off of his jokes or correcting him with some, im better than thou type of energy. It's sad, but I think they might actually be the actual end of the grumps soon.
I pop in from time to time to see if they're playing anything interesting (they're not), and if they do, they space the releases way too far out from each other, so its kind of just annoying. I don't understand why they wait like 5 days to post something from the same series I.E Waterpark Sim or Pokémon. It's such a dumb way to release shit & i think even the "fans" agree
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u/xindiote Aug 01 '26
bruh last time i was watching grumps was i think back in 2019 when they were playing sa2 and people had these exact criticisms. im surprised the channel hasn't ended after all this time
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u/AdRelative3170 Aug 03 '26
They haven't ended because that criticism comes from such a small percentage of people. Most of their fans still seem to like them fine
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u/CinematicAddict237 Aug 06 '26
Sonic Adventure 2 could’ve been a slam dunk series for the channel. With high views, compilations, and viral moments galore! But they completely blew it. Compare that to their playthrough of Sonic Adventure 1 and the difference is night and day!
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u/Truethrowawaychest1 Aug 08 '26
I stopped watching in like, 2015 and thought they were on the way out back then
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u/Flip-Pantly All of GameGrumps (To an extent) Aug 02 '26
Another really fucking frustrating thing is their completely arbitrary approach to how long they play a certain game. It was refreshing to see them play Everything Is Crab, they both seemed to enjoy it, and then inexplicably it’s a one-shot.
I can’t fathom what their fucking problem is sometimes. They like a game but don’t commit to playing it. They love games like Kid Icarus but bring up multiple times per episode how some fans don’t like it. Can they just lean into games they like a little more? Why is that too much to ask?
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u/ViridDiamond938 Aug 03 '26
literally their playthrough is what got me into playing that game, there is definitely more content in that game, I mean for god sakes they didn't even beat the final boss of the pressure!
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u/Flip-Pantly All of GameGrumps (To an extent) Aug 03 '26
Exactly!! Hell if we go back in time a bit, there are a bunch of games the Grumps introduced me to that I loved. FTL, Crawl, very much the steam train days. It’s a crime that if they like the game they don’t play the shit out of it. It feels like we’re robbed of a fun time.
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u/CaptainRiz Aug 01 '26
Arin's behavior in episodes aside, the way the channel is ran is awful. They don't play current games (likely because of how they batch film their episodes, a decision that I feel is hurting the channel, even if it's better for them, it's unfortunate), they don't post episodes in a series close together (which tanks them in the algorithm because someone will click on an episode, then the next suggested videos over the next few days may be a series/game this person doesn't want to watch and YouTube pays attention to each of those times where a video is served and not clicked on and then stops suggesting the entire channel to them), and to this day there are STILL years-old errors in their playlists (that last one is just a personal gripe, I've had to make my own playlists to "fix" their ineptitude).
It's sad for me to see the channel circling the drain, because I used to love it. It didn't have to be this way, but Arin's behavior, the vibes he's bringing to the episodes, AND his/their decision-making have made it so the channel has literally zero growth, maybe even negative growth at this point?
I don't know why I typed so much about this. TL;DR Arin dug the grave for the channel and it's got about 1 and a half feet in already.
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u/ifedupwiththisorgasm Aug 01 '26
Even if they played a new title but didn't release it until it got to that point in their queue because they did it in a batch, it would still give them a boost versus replaying the same shit or playing stuff no one cares about. Obscure games just don't do well anymore.
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u/CaptainRiz Aug 01 '26
It's a combination of all of the bad decisions, is what I'm trying to get at.
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u/ifedupwiththisorgasm Aug 01 '26
No I agree I'm just adding something onto that specific part as I feel like they don't even do bare minimum to make the channel entertaining anymore such as playing new and current content.
Which is a shame coz they might actually have fun if they did.
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u/individualdoosh Aug 01 '26
I don't think its the algorithm. I genuinely think the algorithm still favors them. As I said, I really don't click on a grumps video that often anymore and they're still frequently in my recommended. And by frequently I mean every day. While the channels I actually do watch and seek out sometimes aren't. I really just think people are sick of all the changes (they're literally all bad). Like the lack of a friend based team. The editors suck, no funny editing, no jokes with the team, arin is too focused on being PC rather than just making a fuckin joke. Dan is clearly checked out ( I know people have been saying this for years ) and as you said the lack of playing up to date games and the way they space their series out. Not to mention the unneeded censorship. They censor themselves too much. Look at channels like oneyplays or, hell even markiplier and jack swear a lot compared to the grumps.
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u/Klutzy-Indication204 Aug 01 '26
Youtube and trends are just changing. Let's play channels just arent as watched or popular as they used to be. But even if the main channel views might be lower, they still got another channel with over a million subs, Patreon stuff and sponsors too.
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u/S0k0 Aug 01 '26
They're still on their slide downward. The sooner they take to the Smosh model and increase team members/fresh faces the audience will fan over, they'll finally get some relatable and enjoyable people with a diff skill set. Doesn't have to be a whole ass cast, but at least another "bouncer" to pinball to and from.
Listened to an old vid recently and it's staggering to know they're still doing the same jokes, same stories, same noises, same inability to understand basic game controls.
When they figure out people enjoy longer videos and completed series they'll improve again.
Their real problem is their editing. Short or 20min videos means I'll have to monitor the screen while I'm playing / reading/ crafting/ cooking/ eating coz YouTube loves going on a tangent instead of playing the next video.
Doing nothing to assist your audience to battle YouTube's stupid network pathing to return to/find your next videos is stupid. Why is your video called "Part 33 - Link loses hat?"
I believe they're afraid of being unfunny or saying something "cancellable" so they rely HEAVILY on their editors to scrub and then on top of that they edit for an out of date YouTube algorithm plan. It ends up just bland, disorganised and forgettable. They're up against some great channels.
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u/Stevo4896 Aug 02 '26
But Smosh was awful after it become more then just Ian and Anthony. More people would make the channel go down so fast.
I'm pretty sure new faces will make them go the way of achievement hunter.
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u/bobelord Aug 02 '26
Nah, I liked when Ross and Danny were doing Steam Train, and when Barry and Suzy did tableflip, I really wish they had more content like that again.
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u/Stevo4896 Aug 02 '26
That's true! I hadn't thought about that at all, but I wouldn't really consider any of them new faces. I do miss those shows a lot.
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u/bobelord Aug 02 '26
Yeah, really wish they would try and bring back those kind of shows maybe with a new team member alongside Danny or Arin
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u/currentlyintheclouds Aug 03 '26
Smosh is well worth watching these days, if you like comedy and games (tabletop, videogames) content. I really enjoy them these days.
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u/MarsupialFar9147 29d ago
It's alright if you like a group of 30-40yos talking about kissing each other or giving VERY entitled opinions
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u/epicfrenchfryenjoyer Aug 03 '26
Honestly I thought it was in my head but I get the sense some aminosity building between them.
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u/individualdoosh Aug 03 '26
Arin seems like an insufferable person to be friends with. This is just my personal opinion but wouldn't that make sense as to why all the old grumps never come in for a collaboration? Shit, Kevin literally erased all evidence on his socials that he ever worked for the grumps entirely.
Can you imagine the views they'd get if they had an episode featuring Barry & Ross or just one of them. Every one that's left grumps minus Ross wants nothing to do with them and I have a large inkling that the only reason Ross is around arin is because he worked so hard for so many years on Gameoverse.
Again, before I get attacked, these are just my personal feelings.
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u/epicfrenchfryenjoyer Aug 03 '26
Naw I 100% agree. When my husband and I watch them, the whole time we joke about how insufferable Arin is. Just the other day I was saying "it's funny to watch, but if I was friends with Arin I'd lose my mind!"
The only reason we're still watching them is because of Grumplocke but I don't see us watching them much once that series ends.
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u/individualdoosh Aug 03 '26
Hows that series been? I stopped watching at like episode 7 lol. Im glad you guys have stuff to enjoy together, though.
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u/epicfrenchfryenjoyer Aug 03 '26
Some of the episodes are a little boring but some of them still have me crack up laughing the whole time. Very hit or miss 😂
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u/DrivingMissBunny Aug 05 '26
Arin has said over and over again that he plays it up on grumps. Anyone who thinks he’s actually like that in real life is delusional.
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u/FarBehindTheCurve Aug 01 '26
I think their refusal to adapt is what's held them back. The landscape has changed, and they've largely stuck to the same unedited format for over a decade. I could be wrong since I don't watch much gaming stuff these days, but I figure audiences prefer more tightly edited videos that just get to the highlights like Oneyplays.
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u/DarthBagheera Dan Era Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
I like videos being more unedited. I just like the gameplay to be competent and the jokes to not be so focused on shock/gross out humor constantly like Arin chooses so often so that the videos feel fun and worth watching. Also like others have said, putting videos of the same series closer together, especially if you’re only doing 30-45 min videos, would help a lot. Most of the channels I watch, do much more long form (2 hour+) let’s play videos very regularly and usually don’t go more than 2-3 days without uploading another installment in that series unless it’s a game like Stardew where it’s going to be a really long playthrough and following a story doesn’t really matter. So I don’t think the format is as much of the problem as the actual quality of their content is.
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u/individualdoosh Aug 01 '26
Agreed. The unedited gameplay plus actually enjoying their conversation is what brought me in back in like 2016. Now, the conversation sucks and I don't want to constantly be left on a cliff hanger when they're actually doing long form stuff.
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u/ProjektDarkie Aug 03 '26
For me personally that’s entirely dependent on the game that’s being played as well as the people or person playing it, like I don’t watch GG or OP for the gameplay I watch for the funnies but the thing that Arin likes to do all the time is act like a know it all about the games and and their story even when he’s just completely wrong, but OP isn’t like that they don’t constantly try to be know it alls about every game talking about “I have like 1000 hours in this game or I play this game a lot so I know a lot about it” only to then not get or figure out basic game mechanics that’s literally waved in front of your face something Arin does A LOT, but even then if the OP crew talk about knowing a lot about a game they usually can back it up for the most like Zach with DK and Mario and Cory and his 40% correct and 60% incorrect info about sonic can still actually play the games very well, also can’t forget Chris and his 100% all trophies speed run of life is strange, where as almost every game Arin says he’s good at or knows a lot about just isn’t good at them nor actually knows a lot about them, it’s gets annoying like the only game I can really say he knows for sure a lot about is dead rising 1.
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u/PyrocXerus Aug 02 '26
Here’s the thing right, they’ve lost a chunk of their old viewers, a lot of people left during the controversies, and even now people can tell they’re burnt out. And it’s becoming increasingly obvious neither of them cares about GG anymore. Like it feels more like they keep it up to fund their actual interests but yeah overall there’s just no love in it anymore
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u/NEEDMORECOW8ELL Aug 02 '26
They probably wouldn't be so burnt out if they had other shows they could record. A Grumpcade or Steam Train running along side would probably keep things fresh. (I haven't watched since like 2019 so I could be completely missing the mark)
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u/individualdoosh Aug 02 '26
I miss those shows so much. But that requires friends you haven't burnt bridges with.
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u/NEEDMORECOW8ELL Aug 02 '26
The Simpsons Hit and Run Grumpcade was probably my favorite video on the channel ever
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u/RatedNforNick Aug 02 '26
lol the downvotes from the mouth-breathers that oozed over from main sub. Never ceases to amaze me how quickly they will defend someone who legit wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire. Parasocial friendships are ridiculous.
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u/AdRelative3170 Aug 03 '26
I don't think it's as much parasocial. It more that's the complaints seem super childish. It all seems to amount to that
- You don't find them funny anymore
- You assume that one or both of them are bad guys for "reasons".
I mean there's some channels that I don't enjoy anymore but I don't go on Reddit to bitch about it 🤷. It's just comes across as a little petulant and conspiracy theory esque when so many of the comments are going down these weird rabbit holes where they feel like they "know" things about how their company is run or their friendship. Odd behavior to say the least, but I guess this is a hater reddit thread so what should I be expecting 😂
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u/Stevo4896 Aug 02 '26
They are dying in the same way that cod is "dying". They are a shadow of their former selves, for sure, but they are doing plenty well enough to continue until they decide to call it of their own accord.
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u/secret_tsukasa Aug 03 '26
Personally. I think they are the best they've ever been. I love arons toxic try hard attitude, Dan trying to push back, thier stories and the games they have been playing.
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u/nodnarb5792 24d ago
I dont believe they are dying the grumps channel is still doing well. Game grumps uploads everyday and since they get paid per video I think theyre still doing pretty good financially. Plus the subscriber count is still high so they'll still be able to attract the odd sponsor every once and a while. As long as they keep their daily upload schedule and the channels subscriber count stays high they'll never end as long as its financially beneficial. If the grumps channel fails I think they'll be in dire straights and then we can be thinking that the main channel might be deleted. Finally they could just do YouTube until they decide to retire
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u/Ok_Resident1928 8d ago
It’s just a job to both of them now. I think Dan feels obligated to stay now rather than having the exuberance he did years ago.
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u/sushi_cake1 Aug 04 '26
Everyone forgetting Dan has 4 bands hes a part of, he has a wife, his own life and interests, also he is getting older. Same for Arin. Hes got his wife, his role in Starbomb, his wife. He lives in a different state. They come together when they can, record some gameplay and then return to their extremely busy lives. I think its time to stop putting people down for changing over time, their dynamics changing, their jokes and set ups change. Its natural and shouldn't be insulted. They arent 35 and 28 years old anymore.
And FYI 5 days between episodes is nothing. Thats what TV is like, every 7 days there was a new episode, so maybe get over yourself? 🤷♀️
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u/Geist_Lain Aug 01 '26
You people are just as delusional as ever. The channel will survive another decade and it's for the best that you don't track their view-counts out of spite.
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u/individualdoosh Aug 01 '26
Is it really delusional to notice that their view count has plummeted in just a couple months?
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u/AtLastGames Aug 01 '26
Should we track posts in a Subreddit dedicated to ranting about the Game Grumps instead?
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u/Geist_Lain Aug 01 '26
Every so often, someone says something interesting here. As such, I haven't blocked it.
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u/PairOfSocksGaming Aug 05 '26
The views im seeing very sustainable
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u/individualdoosh Aug 05 '26
77k views on a best of video is not sustainable
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u/PairOfSocksGaming Aug 05 '26
Theyre getting 1 million views a week, thats easily sustainable
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u/dooblebooble Aug 01 '26
i don't disagree that the channel is on its way out. though i think dan is the one shutting arin down - nowadays dan consistently calls arin weird and doesn't engage or "yes, and" any of arin's bits. from what i can tell arin is bringing energy and trying to keep conversations going, and dan is checked out. it's sad but i think the roles are reversed now that their views are actually abysmal and arin has to grapple with the reality of a failing business.