Returning from 2022

so what in the world happened in the 2 years I went away?

I am looking up the news and the update history and so much has changed it's making me dizzy.

One thing I noted is the warbounds?

All in all is the game now P2W? Is it better or worse than before? I am hesitant to invite more time in a game that might as well have dies and I didn't know from the start.