My opinion is that the publishers are just the spearhead.
Someone else mentioned that games are no longer the result of passion, but only the means to make money for most gaming companies. Publishers are the ones that have to make this happen.
But we, as gamers, are also responsible. If we show publishers that the only viable solution to make a lot of money is to make great games, they will do so. But if we continue to buy these unfinished, mtx-full, crappy products, then we are incentivising them to continue making such games.
I see this comment often when this gets reposted. And I agree with you. But in the context of this meme, I guess “game developers” does not refer to the actual programmers, but rather game-making companies.
Good news for future you!