People love Path of Exile but it’s exactly that from what I have seen. And a story that seems to be an excuse for a game. I had no idea what is even going on, and why I should care.

I think lots of MMOs also fall into this trap.

“Also selling a game but in reality, when you buy it, you only buy a license, to play it through the service (such as steam)”

I get what you mean, but you never really purchased anything else than a license. Only in physical media times the media WAS the license.