The energy still exists, it's just different. Compared to even just a decade ago anime/manga became super mainstream. It's normal to love it now. As such, the otaku culture we grew up with (or look back at fondly if you're not that old) became very sanitized as more and more companies were seeking to make profit off this stuff. It's basically the same story with video games. Consoles like Xbox 360 and PS2 came out, then their sequels, games became pretty accessible and mainstream and now we see how that impacted them.

But that's where the indie stuff or smaller game/animation/manga studios come in. There are a growing number of small groups or even individuals that are "bringing back the past". I think that's the best we can get now. The overall culture has changed, so all you can do is try to seek out little niche corners of otaku stuff. Also, time alone will just warp your perception of how you view things. I'm 38 so the way I view and appreciate the things I enjoy is way different than it was at 18 or even 28. It can make newer stuff not feel the same, even if it is...if that makes any sense?