New Races

[Enla]

Since we're in 5.3 now, they'll probably add both the missing sexes and the hairstyle options with 6.0 (hopefully NOT locked behind the expansion, but just part of the patch)

Have they ever actually confirmed a desire to add the missing genders or was that all fandom speculation?

[Bright-Flower]

Have they ever actually confirmed a desire to add the missing genders or was that all fandom speculation?

They have not from anything I've read. Only noncommittal answers keeping the possibility open but not promising anything.

I wouldn't make any assumptions or give the benefit of the doubt. Until SE officially announces something, it's all just speculation and PR talk.

[Yencat]

Since we're in 5.3 now, they'll probably add both the missing sexes and the hairstyle options with 6.0 (hopefully NOT locked behind the expansion, but just part of the patch)

That seems... super optimistic? Judging by the fact they've not added anything to the new races so far it must be a lot of work, why would they exponentially increase their workload by not only making more unique hair and faces for male Hrothgar and female Viera, fit (some?) headgear on them, but then also make entirely new faces and hair for male Viera and female Hrothgar and then fit headgear on them too? And why would they hold stuff back from the races that are already in the game for the other genders they've said they're not sure they're even doing?

I hope they do add them at some point for those that want them, but these sort of expectations are what caused the first meltdown about it on the forums.

OT: I've personally given up getting my hopes up every patch just for nothing again, and again, and again. So while I'd like to see something before 6.0, because 2+ years without any additions by that point is pretty sad, it's probably not realistic.

[wereotter]

Have they ever actually confirmed a desire to add the missing genders or was that all fandom speculation?

The closest I've been able to see is that while they anticipated fan backlash over the two new races only having one playable sex, they didn't realize that it would go over as badly as it did, especially in North America and Europe, so Yoshida said he'd be monitoring things and making a decision how to proceed from there. This was the same time period that he confirmed that lore was not the reason there's only one sex per race, admitting it was a resource allocation restriction that only allowed them to create them as they currently are.

[tdb]

Have they ever actually confirmed a desire to add the missing genders or was that all fandom speculation?

Back when Shadowbringers was being finalized it was mentioned in a live letter or some such that they'd like to do it but were uncertain if they'd ever have the resources.

Edit: Here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...805-09-2019%29

As you play through Shadowbringers, you’ll learn that both male Viera and female Hrothgar exist. While you won’t meet any in person, if we developers can find a way to address the various problems which are preventing us from implementing them, then perhaps someday you’ll be able to see them for yourself. I want to be clear that this does not mean it will eventually happen, and that I cannot make any promises at this time. I hope you will understand and bear with us.

So that's a bit more vague than I remembered, in particular with how it doesn't specify whether they'd be playable options or only NPCs. But still, the developers are not opposed to the idea of implementing the missing genders.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

It seems like there's a bigger fan outcry for Viera.

They should have finished the Viera, let them use different hairstyles and hats and given them male and female options and not bothered with Hrothgar.

Then next expansion give us Hrothgar with optimized customization, separated hair and face options and a female.

I love Hrothgar, I want them in the game but I would have accepted waiting longer for something more complete. My biggest worry with the Hrothgar is SE seeing their lack of popularity and putting it down to "beast races aren't liked" instead of "people don't like needing fantasias to change hairstyles and want to be able to use the things they bought or earned in game"

Remember, they were pretty clear that "This might be the Last chance we get to make a new race, because it takes Alot of resources to make them"
So if they just did Viera as a whole, then they likely wouldn't have the chance to make a Beast Race like they planned to. So they really couldn't Just make Viera now and do Hrothgar next expansion, because its very likely they wouldn't be able to.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

When they announced the new races they said they would add more hair and headgear support down the road. It's been a year now, do you expect we will see something in the lasts 5.x patches or it would be in 6.0?

Yes, they said Viera and Hrothgar would be getting their own Unique Hairstyles down the road.
but No, they did not give us a specified time for arrival or development.

[Ayuhra]

Remember, they were pretty clear that "This might be the Last chance we get to make a new race, because it takes Alot of resources to make them"
So if they just did Viera as a whole, then they likely wouldn't have the chance to make a Beast Race like they planned to. So they really couldn't Just make Viera now and do Hrothgar next expansion, because its very likely they wouldn't be able to.

I do remember them saying that but I still think fully developed Viera and Hrothgar would be doable if spaced apart.

And if not then good lord do they need to upgrade to a new engine and reevaluate the frankly baffling way they handle fitting gear to models.

[DynnDiablos]

It seems like there's a bigger fan outcry for Viera.

They should have finished the Viera, let them use different hairstyles and hats and given them male and female options and not bothered with Hrothgar.

Then next expansion give us Hrothgar with optimized customization, separated hair and face options and a female.

I love Hrothgar, I want them in the game but I would have accepted waiting longer for something more complete. My biggest worry with the Hrothgar is SE seeing their lack of popularity and putting it down to "beast races aren't liked" instead of "people don't like needing fantasias to change hairstyles and want to be able to use the things they bought or earned in game"

Sadly, Hrothgar populations are dwindling which sucks because I love them and my alt is one. I can understand why people are fed up and not wanting to play with them due to limitations, but abandoning the race won't give SE any incentive to update or provide more options.

[Ayuhra]

Sadly, Hrothgar populations are dwindling which sucks because I love them and my alt is one. I can understand why people are fed up and not wanting to play with them due to limitations, but abandoning the race won't give SE any incentive to update or provide more options.

It's definitely sad, especially since we know they watch player metrics.

I think if they could make fully customizable Viera and Hrothgar, make Viera use all unlockable hairstyles and make Hrothgar use variants of them (ESO does this with the Argonians) and give both races their missing sexes THEN we can probably call it quits on new races. Further options could be new tribes which wouldn't require new gear sets.