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The original was posted on /r/linustechtips by /u/The_Edeffin on 2025-08-01 15:25:19+00:00.
To preface this, this isn’t a complaint so much as a suggestion. I really enjoy LTT videos and think most of them are great, but I do feel there’s room for significant improvement, particularly with the "Build" videos, like the recent My Cleanest Gaming Setup Ever.
That video naturally invites comparison to DIY Perks, and while watching it, I found myself feeling bored and disconnected. I started thinking about why that was, and I believe it comes down to some missed opportunities in how these build projects are presented.
The main issue is that while the builds themselves are usually solid (though sometimes clearly rushed due to tight timelines), the storytelling around the process is lacking. They feel like they are rushing to the end result while the real value is in the journey along the way. Here's how many of these videos tend to go:
- Linus introduces the project.
- The build is handed off to a team member, with a brief mention of their planning or design work, but little to none of that process is actually shown.
- Linus returns, often without much context, and assembles or reveals the finished product.
While I understand the production efficiency this workflow allows, it ends up being far less engaging to watch. We rarely see the behind-the-scenes thinking, design iterations, problem-solving, or real-time decision making. The person who is most invested in the build isn’t consistently present throughout the video, which breaks the emotional connection to the project.
I remember some of Alex’s older videos doing this much better. He would take ownership of a build and walk us through the ups and downs of getting it right. That approach felt more personal and satisfying. With fewer team members now both designing projects and appearing on camera, that kind of content feels increasingly rare, especially since people who have the engineering background and on camera personality like Alex depart.
Personally, I think the videos would be more compelling if they included:
- More coverage of the design and prototyping process
- A consistent project lead who sees the build through from start to finish
- Less emphasis on Linus popping in unless he’s directly involved. Its fine if he's just there at the very end to see the result.
- A deeper look at tools, materials, and problem-solving along the way
As it stands, I often leave these videos feeling detached from the final result. I understand the challenge of doing this at scale, but I hope LTT finds a way to bring more narrative depth and passion into their build content again.
Curious to hear what others think. Do you feel the same way?
Edit: As people have raised, the video was also clearly a way to shoehorn a product sponsorship. I'm not actually against that, especially since they said this is usually a common pre-WAN show thing. I also fully understand they need to make money to pay their staff. However, I think the general trend extends well beyond product sponsorship videos.
