Ultimate hiatus feedback

The development team made the correct decision when they decided to re-allocate resources to developing the ultimate series in the odd patches, over using the same old formula. Making high-end content available every major patch.

Most savage raiders clear the content in the opening weeks. After two months of weekly clears they have their BiS, giving them weeks or a month of preparation for ultimate content.

I do think a compromise could probably be made if the resource decision was made to only have two ultimate series per-expansion, re-examine the timelines especially towards the end of expansion where there is more time without new content. Even a third difficulty of the savage raid even for one tier, if that will save resources. The real message is that the ultimate series has been successful, encourages savage progression and clears, and has kept the higher-end player base engaged.

Ultimate fights are extremely enjoyable to me and the pinnacle of raiding I've experienced in this game since I've started playing in 2.0.
Please make a third Ultimate fight in 4.5, not only will this create a big hype for the game and the potential expansion that comes afterwards but it would also give an incentive for raiders to stay subscribed after clearing the final installment of Omega in 4.4 to have maximum item level on one or two jobs for Ultimate.

It'd be such a long time until the next Ultimate if you skip 4.5 that some people might lose interest :(

With no Ultimate on the horizon until the next expansion, there is about 10 days worth of content available to me from now until the next expansion. While I understand the need for the developers to focus resources on getting 5.0 in top shape, the lack of an ultimate raid in 4.5 means that there isn't much for me to look forward to for about a year.

I agree with many of the posts in this thread, the Ultimate fights cause a huge infusion of interest in the game and it would be foolish to not include a third Ultimate to help build hype before the next expansion instead of the doldrums usually experienced in an x.5+ patch.

I strongly urge the team to reconsider this decision. Ultimate raids have consistently brought out very creative mechanics, impeccable design, and some of the most fun I've had in any video game. I think I echo a lot of people when I say Ultimate raids are probably the most engaging content in the game.

Having to slog through the lull between expansions has always been tedious, with us having to wait significantly more time for any new content. Something like an Ultimate raid in this time period would certainly keep a lot of players busy, happy, and satisfied.

I hope the team will reconsider this hiatus decision. I do not play the UCoB or UWU content, but I actively watch many teams who do progression in it, and I'm always cheering for them. It makes me feel a little more involved in both the community and the experience of other players when we have this content to watch and cheer for. Please allow us to have Ultimate content to follow every raid tier!

i haven't cleared either ultimate fight but i enjoy having challenging content for my static to do every odd patch. there's only so much optimization you can do before people get burnt out.

Signed up for the forums to add another request for reconsideration; both Ultimate fights have been incredibly solid and the future looking towards the next expansion is kind of barren with the expected final fight of the series not existing. An Ultimate in 4.5 seemed sort of a given since it would give the community a shot in the arm during what's typically a slower part of the content cycle, and would give everyone one last goal. Without that on the horizon, it's a loooong time until the next kick-in-the-teeth fight will come along.

Currently working on UwU, didn't make it through UCoB but hoping to go back, but at this point both have improved the game for me merely by existing and letting me try.

Fully agree with this. We want some clarification on that statement. If its too rough on the development team I can understand that but the comment about "given the communities reaction" is just odd. I keep wondering if there was something lost in translation. And if thats the case then at the very least provide the HC raiding community with something in 4.5. Or if its just two ultimates per expac switch it up so they can have it at 4.1 and 4.5 with a challenge in 4.3. At the very least I hope YoshiP addresses your concerns. Having to wait til 5.1 well... it just Sucks.

Haven't cleared either but it definitely gives us something to do in our free time. Sure, count me in.

I strongly believe the niche that Final Fantasy XIV has that no other games have is the Ultimate encounter series. There was a lot of hype surrounding both ultimate fights on twitch, and I loved following many teams trying to figure out the puzzle of mechanics, and clearing with the last dot tick. Savage as of now is very underwhelming as a challenge for veteran raiders, lasting only a few days for prog.

I unsubbed during 3.5 due to a lack of content, having an ultimate be released for 4.5 would guarantee a sub from me, along with a bucket load of fantasia that I buy when im playing this game, think of the ££££ SE.

Platinum Disco

Please more ultimate :D

Also finally registered to the forums to post my small opinion on this matter. I unfortunately don't do ultimate due to RL kick in and stuff, however due to my casual raiding background and the various streamers I watch as they wipe and rage over the Ultimate fights, I would like to see another Ultimate before the end of this expansion. It will still give out content that even despite it being a while later, others can go back and give it a try out for their first time clears. Please reconsider the hiatus decision and bring more Ultimates!!

Akira Yoshiko,Cactuar~

I agree as well!

I didn't clear or even try Ultimate.
However, it was an awesome experience to watch and "live" with others.

I sincerly think Ultimate is good for this game.
I support and agree with OP.

Ultimate creates so many hours of content at least 100+ so I hope that if they take it out we will at least get something to replace it. Not only are they two of the best and most fun fights in the game, it creates so much hype on twitch for the whole community that now without it, I do not know what raiders will do.
-cleared UCoB
-Almost cleared UwU
Madoka Neko - Zodiark

Ultimate is such a fun challenge for experienced raiders, progressing is the most fun about new content and Ultimate really lengthens the time progress because of it's difficult nature.

Had much fun clearing UCOB, having loads of fun progression UWU. Hoping SE reconsiders their decision. After 3rd and last new raid tier we would have about 5 months of no new content, assuming you can clear within a month. That's a pretty long time, I'd like to see content that fills this void if there is still not going to be a 3rd Ultimate.

Rlyehs Lament - Zodiark

I 100% agree, putting Ultimate on hiatus is a grave mistake and you should reconsider this move, dear developers. I even finally enabled my profile on the official forums just so I can add to this thread.

Ultimate fills a niche no other MMO really has to my knowledge and it is fun as hell. Even though the content is aimed at a very small percentage of hardcore players, streaming platforms like Twitch allow for a much bigger part of the community to be engaged and cheer their favorite teams on and even figure mechanics out together. It's almost like what you want PvP to be.

You have a good thing going here, SE, don't mess it up!

Sincerely,
Waseph Voxx from Zodiark

I have been playing since ARR on and off, but I've always stayed updated with the game and what's happening. Even tho I'm not so dedicated I can clear this content, it is still the most exciting thing going on in the game, and the biggest reason I still follow the game at all. This is the type of content that for me makes xiv special and gives me a reason to care about it.

I don't see much of a reason to stay subbed after 4.4 if there's not going to be an ulimate, it's honestly just boring without actual content to do. Big agree on this. Hope we're able to reach out to the dev team.

Ultimate is easily some of the best content you've released in the game and has brought the community together and invigorated the game like nothing else. I'm excited to log in every day and go fight it, excited to see my FC members attempt it after cajoling, it helps people grow as players and bond as friends. To not keep it a regular release, to leave the game to atrophy for 8 months until the next expansion is a disservice.

+1
I'm a casual player, working on uwu too so my voice is probably not as widespread but I also want to have a say. I have lots of friends who already feel like unsubbing when the news comes out, that there will only be 2 Ultimate fights. That is the general mentality of the hardcore playerbase of this game: The only really challenging piece of content is this one fight, and a lot of groups usually have a one- or two-month progression. Afterwards, there is nothing else that really interests them, besides re-clearing this content.
I know it is not easy, considering resources and staffing are being poured into this content to satisfy a few percentage of the population and it does take a lot of creativity, passion, time, and effort to create such a fight; but imo, keeping this content alive in the patch cycles also keeps the health of these subscriptions alive.

Ultimate was one of the best, if not the best addition to this game. Not having an ultimate in 4.5 when there's a huge gap until the next expansion is really disheartening.

Fully support this. I was gutted when I heard there would be no 4.5 Ultimate. Like others have pointed out, I think Ultimate's existence is very important due to the difficulty of Savage raids. Not having a 4.5 ultimate will exacerbate the inevitable 4.5+ subscription decrease to unprecedented numbers.

ultimate has given me my fondest moments playing this game. i hope to play through to the end of the expansion with one final battle.

I feel like the notion of an Ultimate level fight every other patch cycle being too overwhelming/fast-paced is specific to Japanese players rather than most of the western demographic for FFXIV.

As I understand it, the English FFXIV community doesn't at all share a similar, dissatisfied line of thought towards Ultimate's release pacing. This can be easily chalked up to a difference in the average player's play-style and mentality; Japanese players tend to want to participate in all the content that's available in FFXIV, whereas it's much more common in the English FFXIV community to extensively focus on one aspect of the game. Hence, it might feel "overwhelming" or "too fast-paced" for Japanese players to try and incorporate another Ultimate into their existing FFXIV play-style after spending an immense amount of time already on the 1st Ultimate (or having it on their to-do list), whereas for a large percentage of English FFXIV players, Ultimate (and Savage raiding to a lesser extent) is their sole focus.

Because of such play-style differences, I think it's important for SE to evaluate opinions from other demographics and weigh them equally to the Japanese player's opinions. At least in the English FFXIV community, many of the players who solely focus on difficult PvE content (so, only Ultimate basically) form considerable foundations of their respective communities. Alienating these players by starving them of content would inevitably have a negative impact on the FFXIV community as a whole. Because of the possibility of such an effect, I think it isn't a great idea to only aim for 2 Ultimate level fights per expansion.

Personally, I enjoyed the Ultimate fights regardless of if I was doing them or not, and I'd like to see the formula of Savage fights on even patches & Ultimate fights on odd patches continue.

I've been a long time fan of raiding in various MMO's and Ultimate is no exception. I enjoy the mix between time commitment, difficulty and enjoyment i've gotten from UcoB and TWRU and learning that there won't be a new Ultimate raid tier in 4.5 is really disheartening.

Ultimate series give us challenges and strive for victory !

Square, please don't give up on Ultimate content!
正方形、究極のコンテンツをあきらめないでください！

The Ultimate encounters are some of the most well-designed fights I have seen in any MMO. There is nothing more enjoyable and rewarding than overcoming the hardships and challenges of these fights.

Please reconsider the decision to halt development of Ultimate until the next expansion.

- Ayesa Faile, Ragnarok

Never ran ultimate nor do I ever plan to run ultimate, but it's probably my favorite content outside the msq just because it's fun to watch other people prog and seeing those first clear videos was super cool. The fact that they said they planned on making it every odd numbered patch makes me think with the amount of support for another ultimate fight that they can easily change gears and have another great fight ready for 4.5

"SE please give us more difficult content to sell, I need to feed myself and my family."

Agreed with OP. Ultimate provides hardcore raiders with a tough enough challenge to both enjoy and overcome. Taking that away until the next expansion basically eliminates any sort of motivation towards relatively difficult content for the rest of Stormblood. Urging the devs to reconsider their current stance on this topic.

Vincent Fiorelli - Midgardsormr.

Put us lot down on the list please:

• Dynamic Taru
• Dervy Yakimi
• Krietor Senpai

We're all on Ragnarok.

I've barely touched UCOB and will probably never enter UWU but I love that there is a proving ground for the top raiders to show what they are made of. Having an unreachable goal is daunting but helps drive people to improve rather then be happy with the point they are at since they have no need to get better.

Emma Nuit - Adamantoise

Pretty much agreed with most things said in this Thread.
As a Player & Viewer I would be extremly sad to not see a 3rd Addition made in Stomblood as this content is really entertaining to watch & attempt. Without it I am not sure i would continue my sub after 4.4.

The ultimate fights are the most well-designed, epic, challenging pieces of content I've played in any game. The Weapon's Refrain ultimate convinced me to try hardcore hours for the first time and it's been the most fun I've had in my life playing games.

I implore you to reconsider the hiatus, the hardcore playerbase are collectively appealing to you to change this. These are the players this content is designed for. We want more, we can handle more.

Keep challenging us, keep throwing insane mechanics at us, keep producing these amazing fights, and please make three per expansion.

Camille Laurent - Odin

These fights are exceptional around all facets of design and have been an absolute blast to progress on, even though I haven't cleared either yet!
I echo just about everyone's thoughts in this thread, and implore you reconsider the hiatus -- we love these fights more than words will allow us to express.
Three fights per expansion is a fantastic amount and would suit the midcore/hardcore scene just well, along with letting groups with less hours a week see the content!

Lyra Ebonfall - Cactuar

Please don't stop creating the best PvE content this game has seen to date. Especially during the longest content drought of the expansion, which is going to make a lot of players - hardcore and even casuals - drop their subscription to go and play other games. If you want to prevent that from happening, give us a new Ultimate to progress through in the long wait for the new expansion.

Wegente Leth - Ragnarok

This content is not only what all hardcore Raiders have been asking for, not only is it entertaining to watch and an amazing thing for FFXIV Streamers, it is also content that serves to motivate those of us who Continue to work on Savage mode content. I can't overstate how much extra effort my Static has been putting into Raid Nights, just for a shot at taking time to tackle Ultimate content. Not including a third Ultimate is like taking away a chunk of motivation not only for Hardcore Raiders, but for those of us striving to reach that level too. Don't cause a content drought, make another Ultimate.

Sploda Nyterian - Lamia