Quote Originally Posted by FoxPaw View Post
SE went with the "WoW" business model because...They're the lowest common denominator and simultaneously the largest market
There's no game design that can force you to make friends. WoW has changed a lot in the decade I've played it and certain types of content no longer promote the same type of interaction they used to, but all that has really changed is that those opportunities for socialization moved to other parts of the game. Heroics no longer really provide a social experience, but you can bet m+ dungeons do, as that's a type of content where networking and consistency are greatly advantageous. Raiding with any seriousness has always been a huge opportunity as well, even if the casual end of things is largely anonymous. FFXIV has a lot of those types of opportunities as well. I don't really think it's some critical game flaw if it doesn't dump friends in your lap, but simply provides you the opportunity to make friends if you choose to.