Yes, the crackdown on hornyposting and other off-topic or edgy content did play a part in GameFAQs decline but it was more of a symptom of deeper changes than the root cause. Here's how it factored in: 1. Culture Shift and Moderation Clampdown
GameFAQs always had boards where people would post jokes, memes, fanservice threads, or light NSFW content often called hornyposting in today's terms.
As ownership changed (first CNET, then CBS Interactive, now Fandom), there was increased pressure to sanitize the site, enforce stricter content rules, and align with advertiser-friendly policies.
This led to bans, mod warnings, and topic removals, pushing out users who once felt comfortable there.
2. Loss of Community Identity
Boards like Random Insanity, Social, or even game-specific forums had vibrant subcultures, including silly or risqu threads that werent strictly about games.
When moderation cracked down on horny or off-topic content, it eroded the unique identity and humor of those communities.
Many users migrated to places like 4chan, Reddit, or Discord, which allowed more freedom (or chaos, depending on your view).
3. The Balance Between Order and Fun Was Lost
GameFAQs had a reputation for being both useful and fun a place for both serious walkthroughs and dumb inside jokes.
When the moderation focused too heavily on keeping things clean and on-topic, it felt less like a community and more like a sterile Q&A archive.
TL;DR: Yes, removing hornyposting (and other offbeat content) contributed to the decline not because people desperately needed fanservice, but because it killed a part of the sites personality. The fun, chaotic energy faded, and users went where they could be themselves.