Why do you think FFXIV is performing so badly form the content creation side?

[Crushnight]

The issue is the content FFXIV offers, most content is very laid back and a 1 and done spectacle, this doesn't help to keep content creators busy.

The content FFXIV has over its competitors is also not beneficial to keeping a high viewer rating, crafting, no one is going to want to sit and watch someone craft ad nauseum especially for new viewers, Story, spoilers duh but it is a 1 and done deal not going to be reaping in views via story, all challenging content is long on the archive list for a lot of content creators, news has been slow from the devs on updates understandably because of Convid.

FFXIV is just not a game that is made to hold viewership beyond 1st few weeks of a patch, ultimately I think that is ok but the only real way to bolster its viewship is to actually give more challenging content, stuff like savage dungeons, savage solo etc, even then it'll only boost it for a few weeks at most.

[RareItems]

Most of FFXIV's interesting content is not appropriate for Twitch or youtube :3.

[Amnmaat]

I mean, XIV has enough in it to keep viewers interested, the problem is twofold, first, these XIV streamers love branding their channels as a XIV channel yet 6/7 days of the week they're playing other games instead. The other is branding, they all brand themselves as "Ok guys! Playing XIV here," lol how are people to be drawn to channels like those?

But yes, the overarching barrier is XIV is made to be played, unlike many mmos which are 9am-5pm full time jobs.

[Vahlnir]

The issue is the content FFXIV offers, most content is very laid back and a 1 and done spectacle, this doesn't help to keep content creators busy.

The content FFXIV has over its competitors is also not beneficial to keeping a high viewer rating, crafting, no one is going to want to sit and watch someone craft ad nauseum especially for new viewers, Story, spoilers duh but it is a 1 and done deal not going to be reaping in views via story, all challenging content is long on the archive list for a lot of content creators, news has been slow from the devs on updates understandably because of Convid.

FFXIV is just not a game that is made to hold viewership beyond 1st few weeks of a patch, ultimately I think that is ok but the only real way to bolster its viewship is to actually give more challenging content, stuff like savage dungeons, savage solo etc, even then it'll only boost it for a few weeks at most.

They (SE) has always given me the impression that they don't really care about the streaming thing too much, or there would be some more competitive content being created. Maybe it's not as big of a thing in Japan? I don't really know enough about the subject to say. But I also do believe that it is as some have said in this thread...most content in this game is playable for most everyone, so people would rather play the game than watch it.

[Jojoya]

You neglected to include the content creators on the Japanese video game streaming services. This isn't a NA/EU based game, after all. With so much of the player base in Japan, a lot of the content creators are going to be using streaming services NA/EU viewers don't watch.

[lolicon09]

I'll never understand how something like that even matters

[Goji1639]

There's no serious PvP or anything really competitive. I can't imagine the gameplay is very exciting to watch.

Some games just don't translate to spectating well.

[Brill_]

There's no serious PvP or anything really competitive. I can't imagine the gameplay is very exciting to watch.

Some games just don't translate to spectating well.

This. All the fights in this game have a static order of mechanics. Aside from the world first races, everything happens in the exact same order every time. That makes for boring spectating. The unexpected rarely happens.

[Amnmaat]

The fact that it doesn't have a heavy pvp focus is why it has one of the highest subscription bases. I came to FFXIV because of that very reason, the fact that the game is 99% pve.

As for viewership, again, a lot of XIV streamers, for some reason think people will watch their streams "just because." They have to offer something extra than just because. I've looked around and can't find any that offer anything extra.

[splinter1545]

Because the game isn't interesting enough to stream unless you have some form of personality like Mr Happy, Xeno, MTQ, etc.

There's no PvP focus like say Destiny during trials weekends so you don't see that. There's no build diversity or anything like that so you don't see streamers theorycrafting what melds are best or what kind of build suits which content, since those are basically set in stone (some jobs have different builds, yes, but generally it's just one other alternative rather than a good handful). There's no long lasting content so once you see a streamer/content creator get a clear/their rewards, there's no reason to watch it again or for them to even bother running it either unless they do PUG carries.

The whole design of the game is just not friendly for streaming or creating content. It really only spikes during patches for new story and raids, and then drops pretty quick afterwards.

Is it a bad thing? Not at all. But if they want some form of streaming presence, or at least more video content that is not just guides, they need to actually add more depth to the game for PvE or focus on PvP somewhat so there can be a presence for that. Can't really expect much from content creators when they can't do much but just constantly make guides until the next patch, with the occasional clear video here and there.