QoL Features and the Erosion of Gameplay Loops

Design

Current design philosophy treats friction as a bug. We see a steady increase in 'Quality of Life' features: auto-loot, waypoint markers, and ubiquitous fast travel. The industry assumes that reducing tedium automatically improves the user experience. I am skeptical of the methodology behind this. Most of these changes seem based on anecdotal preferences rather than a rigorous look at how friction contributes to player mastery. When a game removes the need to navigate or manage resources manually, it often erodes spatial awareness. Following a GPS line is not the same as learning a map. In many cases, the struggle of interacting with a world is the core mechanic, not a hurdle to be patched out. Which specific QoL feature in a recent title felt like it stripped away a meaningful mechanic? Conversely, where did efficiency actually improve the loop without compromising the depth of the experience?