As someone who as a kid avoided a crippling WoW addiction and played C&C instead, I sort of get it.

The first set the foundation of a great franchise, there was improvement from the first update as it showed it wasn't a one and done.

Then the original creators tries something new in the same setting and gets pushback because it's different even if later it's shown to have merits, this creates a rift between the fans, creator and franchise.

In swoops the leeches/skinsuits who use the rift to gain control of the franchise usurping the creator, thinking the fans despite complaining still stayed so they can change it without consequence and turn it into their mouthpiece loosing ALL the fans.