Why does Square Enix treat FF11 so poorly?

[radar]

I don't understand why they are allowing a game with a dedicated audience of paying customers to degrade in the way they are. I can't think of a single other company that acts this way, I would understand if ff11 was a free game like Guild Wars 1 but it has a subscription, additional revenue streams and tens of thousands of players paying it.

It's not like they are able to make new online games to replace 11, cause when they try they keep on flopping. Most of their single player games also do poorly because they cost so much to make, and so barely make a profit. How does management not see they need to keep these games running as long as possible and even make them more profitable by releasing expansions or new content to keep people coming back and interest high?

The lack of care for future proofing ff11 on new operating systems and hiring new staff to ensure its operation long into the future is incredible, even Dragon Quest 10 gets better support and has far fewer players.

The management needs to wake up.

[Immortal]

They've been doing this to XI since XIV was an idea in their heads. Siphoning funds off XI to feed the XIV monster from its failure. I remember we went literally ages without content when they were working on XIV. Just how it goes sadly, the game deserves way more. I hope their survery they did will have something come of it, everyone should fill it out:

https://questant.jp/q/896VWH6Q

I didn't even know it was official because it was not promoted anywhere, or if even it is.

The game has seen a massive decline in players over the last year, they are hemorraging players at this rate. They have neglected it incredibly badly.

[Dragoy]

I didn't even know it was official because it was not promoted anywhere, or if even it is.

It is mentioned, and linked to on the PlayOnline sites at the very least.

[Beastorizer]

Because XI is not an A-list MMO. However, it is more akin to a B-list Eve Online, Everquest types.

It was SE doing though.......XI was a A-list MMO, until SE decided they don't want it to be lol.......

To Immortal's point, I will add XIV was their biggest mistake.... The reason why games such as XVI selling 3 million is deemed a failure, is due to failed projects like XIV (Regardless of what it is doing now....because it obviously aint enough....).

[Stuzey]

It's old, simple as that, they started developing it in the 90's, it's now uncommon to have players younger than the game (not me). They gave it a 5 year life span, it's still going, not strong, but it has a steady fan base.

I still wonder what could have been if they hadn't gone the rapture (FFXIV) way and decided to redo FFXI

[Deadglobe]

As Hard as it is for some to admit... the title says it.

I love this game always have always will, but lets face it the game is more of a time sink now than the 75 era. even with all of the QoL stuff... game is full of bots and RMT spammers. Abyssea was the end of this game... or at least the start of it. introducing Trusts makes 97% of the game soloable.

if this had been the "Only" online version of Final Fantasy things may have been different.

AFAIK lots of stuff in the TOA needs to be 86'd because it no longer applies.
one day all that will be left is the RMT and the bots... i think that's what SE is waiting for.

gives them perfect reason to turn off the lights

[Alhanelem]

Its not a matter of treating it poorly, it's a matter of "investing lots of money in this game doesn't make sense from a cost/benefit standpoint."

You love the game. I love the game. Other people here love the game. But love isn't enough by itself. Square Enix isn't an indie on a labor of love- They're a big company that has to please investors, and investors for the most part are going to care little for their money being spent to update a decades old game that isn't likely to have a big return on it.

[Rinuko]

game is full of bots and RMT spammers.

* If you're on Asura. I don't say we don't have bots on Bahamut cause we do but its a day and night difference between Asura and any server.

[Alhanelem]

* If you're on Asura. I don't say we don't have bots on Bahamut cause we do but its a day and night difference between Asura and any server.

Yes, like 90% of the bots in the game are on Asura. On Shiva we have this guy called Jobpoints who sells services for gil but might be an RMT, not really sure; and maybe once or twice a week I'll see an actual RMT /yell. Bahamut is like the second biggest NA pop server I think? and it probably still has a fraction of the bots of Asura.

If you don't like bots, you have options. You can reasonably play this game on any server. Even on low pop servers like Shiva, just reach out to the right linkshell and you can do anything in the game. You don't need a bazillion players around you to be able to enjoy the game.

[Dragoy]

On Shiva we have this guy called Jobpoints who sells services for gil but might be an RMT

I imagine /it/ is on every server, connected to the things fighting for capacity points 24/7.