why do game developers blame gamers for "prepetuating a culture of crunch"? shouldn't you be blaming your project lead or management?

the situation usually goes as follows:
- promise a date when game comes out
- gamers believe and get excited
- game gets delayed/releases incomplete and buggy
- gamers get pissed
- blame gamers for "perpetuating a culture of crunch"

???

you promise a date, you didn't fulfill. of course you're gonna get shit from gamers. but, we don't control your workplace practices, we don't influence shitty management. we simply accept the expectations you set.

if you want to stop crunch, go to your management, fix your internal problems. don't blame the people buying your product as to why your product was hell to make, because newsflash, we don't manage you.