So, new hair coming out... Just...

[DamianFatale]

I really hope such things will come with Endwalker, but my faith in Square had dwindled in regard to this matter. With every new hair that is added that I'm excluded from for choosing one of the new premiere Shadowbringer races, the more I feel forgotten about and uncared for by Square, all just to save a bit of money on making minor adjustments to make the hair fit Viera. As for Hroth, they have their own issues. I hope they too will be given justice in time as well.

Hrothgar NPCs are seen with varying hairstyles. It is absolutely in the game files, but they just aren't available to players yet. Viera might come after, because Hrothgar are a LOT worse.

[Yandere-chan]

Hrothgar NPCs are seen with varying hairstyles. It is absolutely in the game files, but they just aren't available to players yet. Viera might come after, because Hrothgar are a LOT worse.

Technically it's in the game files for Viera to be able to ware headgears too, they are just forced hidden because they are worried about clipping but also don't want to spend time to make little ear pockets for Viera ears and such. That's the point though. They have just put off putting any money into expanding hair / hat customization for players even though it should of been planned for all along. Like, okay, can't get it done by release of expansion? We are used to that. But to purposely just ignore it for all this time? That isn't on accident. That was chosen on purpose. That's just really rude and uncaring for those who of course were going to want to play as Viera and Hroth. Like, they could of been allocated the budget to do that. They just wanted to dump as little money as possible into FFXIV though. It's even a meme that FFXIV is used to pay for other projects while its left with less than what's needed to meet even all its basic goals. It's worth complaining about to me.

[DamianFatale]

Technically it's in the game files for Viera to be able to ware headgears too, they are just forced hidden because they are worried about clipping but also don't want to spend time to make little ear pockets for Viera ears and such. That's the point though. They have just put off putting any money into expanding hair / hat customization for players even though it should of been planned for all along. Like, okay, can't get it done by release of expansion? We are used to that. But to purposely just ignore it for all this time? That isn't on accident. That was chosen on purpose. That's just really rude and uncaring for those who of course were going to want to play as Viera and Hroth. Like, they could of been allocated the budget to do that. They just wanted to dump as little money as possible into FFXIV though. It's even a meme that FFXIV is used to pay for other projects while its left with less than what's needed to meet even all its basic goals. It's worth complaining about to me.

The paying for other projects thing is only a rumor, and has never been confirmed in fact. I honestly don't think it even came from staff, or even ex staff. It seems like something the players made up and ran with. I doubt that SE will ever be transparent on how much of the money from their games goes into making more games. That isn't information that Japanese game companies are willing to give out the majority of the time. That rarely even happens in the US! The only exception I have ever seen is when a game company crowdfunds.

It is however common knowledge that ALL OF the games a studio develops pour at least a bit of their earnings into future projects, but that is just common sense. They aren't going to take all of the profits and spend it all frivolously. Any company that did that would go bankrupt. They have to have the money to continue making everything that they create, or else the brand will cease.

It is logical to assume that a game with a subscription service is creating a steady flow of money for its company, so I think a large sum of profits is obviously going to Square Enix. Some of that is very likely being used to make Final Fantasy VII remakes, XVI, side games like World of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest games, and etc.

BUT I seriously doubt that the devs are being forced to operate on a low budget. Are they understaffed? Maybe. A good example to look at how a Japanese company might hire, is to look at Gamefreak. It took FOREVER for them to get outside help on future games, and recently they announced that they are finally looking to outside help for making future games. Note how they hired an entire separate company. They didn't just expand the development team like other companies do. I.e. Monolith Soft.

This is because there is a lack of trust when expanding a company in Japan.. In the US people tend to be quick to try new faces, but in Japan they value the people they already have, and respect them greatly for their experience. It's not uncommon in the US to have people as young as teenagers being the face of brand new ideas, but in Japan.. that isn't outside of music the majority of the time. It has its drawbacks, but it is the way that they tend to be..

So for Square Enix to add more help to Endwalker, I think they would have to hire an entire separate company, or SLOWLY add to their team in a way that they are comfortable with. I could be wrong, but it is what I think based on the research and time I have spent learning about Japanese businesses. The reason they might be more likely to hire an entire separate development studio, is because they would already be used to NDA contracts, be able to hold secrets, and have a solid history of experience..

So again.. I would be careful assuming that Square Enix doesn't know what it is doing financially for this game. They are probably well aware.