Not to mention time spent writing fan fiction and brainstorming new complaints. lol
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All of this is largely a vocal minority opinion.
While most would probably agree Shadowbringers was better than Endwalker in many ways, and there's definitely areas to gripe about, there's hardly a pattern of decline here.
The story is largely subjective, and the difference in format of things like Relic, Deep Dungeon, Criterion and Island Sanctuary, is simply them trying new things and listening to player feedback. We've been asking for a new Deep Dungeon, players have asked for a traditional relic grind instead of locking it behind exploratory zones like Bozja, and players have been asking for harder dungeon content.
Yoshida earned getting to do whatever he wants. Personally though I think it would be really interesting for FFXIV to have a new vision from new leadership while Yoshida focuses on whatever is next, be it a next-gen MMO or another single-player FF like XVI. But if he wants to spend the rest of his career on XIV it will happen, I just hope he doesn't keep the same damn content patterns for its entire lifetime.
I really dislike the idea that because YoshiP saved 14 during 1.0 that he's this infallible being that is beyond criticism that a lot of people seem to have about him. At the risk of sounding like certain individuals, I do think YoshiP is a bit out of touch with his playerbase. As someone else said, look at his disconnect with the healer role, or how he shocked pikachu face'd on April 1st's hrothgar hair reveal. I don't think he's running the game into the ground by any means, but there are unfortunately issues.
I think the guy did a great and wonderful job of saving 14. I also think he's working with severe mismanagement issues because Square Enix while at the same time having to juggle a lot (FF16). The guy has a lot on his plate and like any normal person, it's probably running him ragged.
I don't think he should be replaced, but I do think it'd be in 14's best interest (and maybe his own?) for him to be relegated to one game and for Square to actually freaking listen to what he needs for 14 if that's the one that's chosen (proper funding for one). Personally, I'd rather have him on 14 since he genuinely cares about the game, even if some of the things he does and says is... highly disagreeable.
This is a very dangerous mindset to have for game developers oh my word.
It wouldn't even be one person. You get rid of Yoshida you have two spots to fill. So would two new people do a better job than Yoshida or do worse? Some here forget that Yoshida holds two rolls. Heck he's even said he'd welcome someone to take over one of those rolls. That he knows it's not normal for someone to hold both the producer and director role for a game.
This right here? This is how you get stuck with Tanaka again or Nomura. Trust me. You don't want that. Yoshi P may make mistakes and at times not have an agreeing idea with the playerbase but uh... as others have said he is the sole reason that Square Enix is still even around.
This mindset is how WoW ended up with Ion.