COVID showed why the Developers need to release Relic content sooner.

[Evergrey]

Not really sure why folks keep citing the same 'just quit during downtime' sentiment. If everyone did that the game would be dead.

The whole point of a subscription is that you pay monthly with the expectation that you will continually be fed content, this game isn't a one and done deal. It's an MMO and it needs to be at least somewhat evergreen or why even charge a monthly fee? Might as well just charge for patch entry and leave it at that.

I feel like the idea that the game isn't designed to keep you playing is just a weird excuse to be lax with content releases. You guys should expect more from the companies you give money to.

And as a side-note, no I don't think the devs should endanger themselves to work on the game, but they should definitely be a lot smarter/professional with their practices so events such as these aren't so damaging to the game.

I understand that. But people also have to understand that creating content takes time and it's impossible to keep a steady flow of content without any downtime between.
Also, it's up to the players themselves to make something to do while waiting and not just sit and wait to get spoonfed content when they got multiple options ingame to do.
But if one might have already done everything there is to do, just take a break.
Even YoshiP have said to do something else while waiting if the downtimes are too much for you.

海外ゲーマー
ミスター吉田、俺は『FFXIV』が大好きなんだ。でも、ずっとプレイし続けるのが辛くなってしまって、いまはゲームを休んでいるんだ。すまない。何かずっとゲームを続けるためのコツや、モチベーションがあれば教えてくれないか？
"Hey YoshiP, I love FFXIV, but it's hard to keep playing your game (because of the lack of content) and now I'm taking a break here. Sorry for asking this but is there a way or a reason to keep playing? or anything that can you teach me how to keep my motivation for playing your game?" - A player asking Yoshida during Gamescom

Yoshida's answer
無理して毎日やらなくていいよ。ゲームなんだし、辛いならやめればいい。むしろ、いまはたくさんゲームが発売されるから、ひとつに絞るのはストレスだよ。だから、メジャーパッチがでたら一気にプレイして、飽きる前にパッとやめて。ほかのゲームをやればいいよ。またメジャーがでたら戻ってくる。僕はそれがいちばんうれしいし、結果、それがいちばん長くゲームをプレイするコツだと思う。
Yoshida "It's alright not to play it everyday. Since it's just a game, you can stop forcing yourself if it's hard on you to keep that up. Rather, it'll just pile up unnecessary stress if you limit yourself into playing just that one game since there are so many other games out there. So, do come back and play it to your heart's content when the major patch kicks in, then stop it to play other games before you got burnt out, and then come back for another major patch. This will actually make me happier, and in the end, I think this is the best solution I can answer for keeping your motivation up for the game."

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...otivation_and/