May 2020 FINAL FANTASY XI Digest

[Akihiko_Matsui]

Greetings, everyone!
FFXI Producer Matsui here.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a large impact worldwide.
We wish for the quick recovery of those who have taken ill and offer our heartfelt thanks to those who are working hard to maintain our everyday lives.

As of early April, our Tokyo offices have shifted to working remotely in order to curb further spread of the virus. Due to the sudden nature of this shift, a number of scheduled tasks for the May Version Update were still untouched when development was halted. As a result, the May Version Update will be limited to Login Campaign updates and other minimal changes, while Records of Eminence monthly objectives and Ambuscade will be the same as April.

With that said, we’ve prepared several in-game events such as the Relaxing in Vana’diel Campaign, so you can continue to enjoy your adventures in Vana’diel. Also, be sure to take advantage of this month’s Login Campaign if you have yet to obtain Cipher: Shantotto II!

Thanks to the efforts of our IT team, we’ve been gradually able to handle more tasks remotely.

Please also look forward to our 18th anniversary event, which we’re doing our best to release as soon as possible.

Though this month’s FFXI Digest ended up being delivered through text, we’re looking forward to delivering information to you through our usual video format once again!

Thank you for your continued support of FINAL FANTASY XI.

[Pellerian]

Thank you for all your hard in maintaining our precious Vana'diel for all to enjoy! My only request this month is could you extend the length of the Relaxing in Vana'diel event past the May 31st end date? Say until the end of summer when we all hope the entire development team can get back into the main offices? Thanks again!!

[InvincibleShield]

My heartfelt appreciation to the SE team for trying your best to push out a May update during this COVID-19 situation. Vana'diel remains a home to all adventurers when all else fails... Pls take care and stay healthy! thanks :)

[Sirmarki]

Thank you and stay safe!

[Ilisidi]

Thank you for bring Vana'diel to us in these interesting times.

I'm happy to get my hands on Shantotto II and it'll be nice to do some relaxing catching up. There's still so many things to do.

[Epoch]

Thank you team for continuing to keep FFXI in our lives! Please stay safe and take the time you need. Cheers!

[JKap_Goat]

I want to say not only thank you to the XI team but SE, thank you for XI and XIV for getting me though these rough times in my life. it's definitely been my rock when I wanted to go somewhere and escape

[Typral]

I am so grateful that FFXI is still around and I love it despite its many flaws. That being said.... please SE, invest more resources into this game when you're back in the offices. It deserves better, right now its rampant with cheats and multi boxing as far as the eye can see. There is no content, we are in a huge slump right now. A lot of my friends have already quit and most are playing solo with their mules. We need some infusion of life into the game!

[Sirmarki]

I am so grateful that FFXI is still around and I love it despite its many flaws. That being said.... please SE, invest more resources into this game when you're back in the offices. It deserves better, right now its rampant with cheats and multi boxing as far as the eye can see. There is no content, we are in a huge slump right now. A lot of my friends have already quit and most are playing solo with their mules. We need some infusion of life into the game!

You seem to have changed your tune?


Why waste energy and time worrying about what other people are doing, when it doesn't even effect you?

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/51039-Job-points-has-ruined-one-of-the-foundations-of-this-game?p=626373#post626373

[Typral]

Exploits are different than JP botting

[Alhanelem]

Exploits are different than JP botting
Not really.

[RagingAvatar]

I have just re-subbed to the game because of your video updates Mr. Director!
Thank you for your hard work! Stay safe!

[Beastorizer]

Not gonna re-subb, but will enjoy the free week on my quest to 99. Unless the 20th anniversary is a HD remaster with full hands on deck development which means the end of the infamous resources excuse, I will continue to appear every now and then during free weeks.

[Nyarlko]

I know this particular problem probably doesn't affect a very large portion of the playerbase, but would it be possible to have the cap on online linkshell members raised from 64 to 96-128? ^^;;

My linkshell has been pushing 50~60 online for the last two years at nearly all times, and with the increased playtime for many due to the novel coronavirus, we're holding steady at 60~64 online at all times of day, which means that many members are getting locked out of the house so to speak. (Including myself as the linkshell owner..) It hurts to have to turn away new/returnee players these days when helping them is the core mission of FaceDesk. :(

[TullemoreAsuraFFXI]

Without Square-Enix intervention, I would recommend asking pearl residents to disconnect from pearls when characters are afk.

[Sirmarki]

I know this particular problem probably doesn't affect a very large portion of the playerbase, but would it be possible to have the cap on online linkshell members raised from 64 to 96-128? ^^;;

My linkshell has been pushing 50~60 online for the last two years at nearly all times, and with the increased playtime for many due to the novel coronavirus, we're holding steady at 60~64 online at all times of day, which means that many members are getting locked out of the house so to speak. (Including myself as the linkshell owner..) It hurts to have to turn away new/returnee players these days when helping them is the core mission of FaceDesk. :(

What are your rules on alts?

[Nyarlko]

What are your rules on alts?

We've had to go to a 1x char per player at a time rule already, still overshooting online membership cap on a daily basis. :(
It feels horrible getting locked out of the house. T_T

I already tried making a 2nd ls specifically for events, but it's hard enough herding cats during events w/o trying to herd them into a different room before starting. <,<

[Soraii]

Good job still not fixing the forced HQ hack, that's working out really well

[Jerbob]

Good job still not fixing the forced HQ hack, that's working out really well
I've not been able to in good conscience buy anything HQ for weeks now. It feels really pointless to make money with nothing to spend it on except goods produced by cheating. My motivation to keep playing takes a hit every time the cheaters get away with murder because, at each stage, I'm forced to make a choice - I can either keep having fun but support the cheaters, becoming guilty by association and buying into their scummy, smug attitude, or I can cut myself off from a part of the game. I shouldn't have to make those choices when I'm playing a game that's policed by a special task force.

I understand that finding technical solutions to stop the cheating scum making this game worse for everyone is difficult, but it really is a priority at this point. Some more boots on the ground couldn't hurt either.

[Gwydion]

Can we have more copies of Reisenjima portal#9? On Asura, player congestion is becoming extremely problematic. Please don't say server transfer. Having 16 servers to choose from isn't a solution to over-camped Gaes Fete ??? spawn points. (We have linkshells, and not everyone will move. Server transfer for many linkshells will actually fracture groups of players, which is more of a hindrance than helpful, because you'd be leaving people behind during their Aeonic run).

[BobbinT]

Thank you for all your hardwork. :)



BTW, if possible, please provide fix for playing with stable performance on current gen laptops with Windows 10. It really hurts having even 10-years old laptop outperform current gen & having to rely on 3rd-pt software that's buggy & risky just to get decent performance.