FFXIV and SqEnix vs WoW and Blizzard - My Perspective

[Vahlnir]

I disagree that WoW is creatively bankrupt.

Shadowlands is actually quite good and has a pretty decent story, though I still feel more invested in the Warrior of Light than the Maw Walker since WoW tends to lean on plot threads that belong more to NPCs than to you.

The biggest issue WoW has, and it's one we've been complaining about, is too many systems that result in "forced" content. At level cap there are a bunch of things to stay consistently on top of and it makes it feel like you're doing chores.

Dan Olson pretty much nails it here: https://youtu.be/0RxQRswLAmI?t=1983

I enjoy FFXIV because it's more casual friendly in the ways that matter... There's lots of stuff to do but I never feel like I HAVE to do it to keep up.

It is because of these chores that I decided to bow out of Shadowlands not even 2 weeks into the expansion. That has never happened before. I'd rather spend time playing other things though that don't feel created purely out of spite. I'd say yes, they are creatively bankrupt, and can only really get people to play their game if they are willing to force themselves to log in every day to do busywork. Not even on the player's terms, but Blizzard's.