Ew Spoiler Content and Trigger warning on Quests

[Karatecatgrl]

So I've just finished a segment of the in endwalker main senario and well I really really wish there was a content or trigger warning to warn us about just how dark and bad it is. I know you told us in live letters it was going to be bleak but this requires more warning than that.

I also wish after the end of those quests you gave us the hotline prevention number because it's absolutely important to remind people that's not okay.

Mental health is no joke and NPCs commiting suicide isn't ok, even if it's implied.

Offer us the choice to know that something like that is happening so we can prepare ourselves for it, instead of seeing it, being blindsided and then be reminded of real world losses and not want to play.

I took time off ffxiv because of that quest as it was messed up and I'm currently dealing with a pet loss and lost a cousin two years ago to suicide.

So yeah a bit more warning next time.
No I'm not okay.

[MilkieTea]

This already happened in Stormblood.

[Dionysius]

They did.

Advice for consumers
This game has received a PEGI 16 because it features strong and sustained depictions of violence, as well as prominent use of tobacco. Not suitable for persons under 16 years of age.

Brief outline of the game
Expansion for the role-playing game FINAL FANTASY XIV.

Content specific issues
The majority of the game's violence is mild or moderate, featuring characters taking part in turn-based battles with little injury detail shown.
However, cutscenes feature more graphic and realistic violence.
The game includes a scene of implied suicide, in which a character is seen holding a loaded gun to their head.
The suicide is not shown, although the character's dead body is subsequently shown, with a blood stained wall also visible.
The game features scenes in which characters derive a benefit from smoking a pipe.

Checking the ESRB/PEGI rating next time for any games you want to play will help.

[Karatecatgrl]

But they didn't. The PGEI/ESRB mention it, but The problem with it is that they don't tell you explicitly which quest or cutscene it will happen in and if you skip the story you lose context of characters going forward.

All they need to do in game is put up a content Warning on the particular quest or make those happen in optional cutscenes and not baked into the msq.

[Feronar]

NPCs commiting suicide isn't ok, even if it's implied.

Clearly you must have never read any classic literature or seen any classic theatre (I'm talking Shakespeare and the like).

[MilkieTea]

So you were presumably fine with Zenos' self-oof in stormblood? And Shiva's self-oof by way of sacrifice?

[HyoMinPark]

But they didn't. The PGEI/ESRB mention it, but The problem with it is that they don't tell you explicitly which quest or cutscene it will happen in and if you skip the story you lose context of characters going forward.

All they need to do in game is put up a content Warning on the particular quest or make those happen in optional cutscenes and not baked into the msq.

But then you will run into the other side of this coin: potential spoilers. Adding a trigger warning—and I’m guessing you will want a specific one of “T/W: depictions/reference of suicide”—would then lead to people getting mad about a major event being spoiled. So it’s kind of a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation from a developer perspective. People don’t want spoilers, but then also want T/W. I don’t know of a way to have both; not in a scenario like what you seem to wish for.

I have also lost someone to suicide. I actually posted about it on here. So I understand completely where you are coming from. I’m just thinking of this from a more neutral standpoint.

[Intellion]

But they didn't. The PGEI/ESRB mention it, but The problem with it is that they don't tell you explicitly which quest or cutscene it will happen in and if you skip the story you lose context of characters going forward.

All they need to do in game is put up a content Warning on the particular quest or make those happen in optional cutscenes and not baked into the msq.

Here are my two cents on discussions like this:

No. Absolutely not.

Trigger warnings are a cancer that should be purged from all forms of entertainment media, not just FFXIV.

Besides the already obvious issue of TWs spoiling upcoming scenes and completely eliminating the element of surprise, TWs like the ones you’re proposing are extremely intrusive to the story and will completely break immersion, not to mention treating its audience like fragile infants who can’t distinguish fiction from reality.

Content ratings like the MPAA, ESRB, CERO, Pegi, etc are more than sufficient for viewer discretion, as they’ve always been for decades now.

And personally? I think that the vocal minority constantly demanding trigger warnings for any forms of entertainment don’t deserve trigger warnings. What they deserve instead is for said entertainment product taken away from them.

Why, you ask? Because if you constantly demand intrusive trigger warnings before every single scene depicting mature content, you’re either:

1. Not yet mentally and emotionally mature enough to consume said mature scene. Hence, you shouldn’t be consuming said media until you are mentally ready/mature enough.

2. Have serious underlying mental/emotional issues that have gone untreated for so long that it’s seriously impacting your ability to even just peacefully consume and enjoy entertainment media. In this case, you don’t need trigger warnings; what you need is professional help and treatment, and I do not mean that as an insult. No really, get some help. I’m serious.

[Karatecatgrl]

Actually I was not okay with either of those.

[Snazzington]

Endwalker as it is was shown to be a dark expansion anyways, the deaths and the questionable actions taken during the entire MSQ just portrays how dark and unforgiving the situation is. story wise its an amazing way to dig into it, and they're not apologetic about it. StormBlood Was an expansion of war, clashing of ideologies and just a drag to run due to all the oppositions that took then and there, EndWalker is an expansion that dives into nihilism, the will to live, the stubbornness of one being too loyal to something as well as the lengths and actions someone will take when the situation is too much to bear.

Its a reflection, and it is done as safe as it is. the blood on the flag as a symbolism to how Quintus was truly a man of Garlemald who was stubborn and would rather die than have things change. Zenos was a misbegotten youth who knew nothing but conflict and finally feeling something, SOMETHING, has decided that this is it and his life fulfilled he has nothing left to make him feel the same way again. And Shiva as it was- yes Heroic but also tragic.

So I agree that Trigger Warnings are not good with this game. And I won't say I'm an expert- but if you can't stomach it, then there are other ways to mitigate it. not everyone shares your beliefs in psychology- some heal faster than others and some heal slower than others and being an "Expert" more often than not only feeds one side without looking at the other.

So if it is too much for you, accept it as it is- Hell Matsya has the right of it!
The entire Thavnair storyline has the right of it.

So if it truly bothers you so, then skip it. click away fast, something.
but never push the need for something niche into a game that has focused itself into the hard and deep story it is known for, and I do say this kindly,
maybe don't easily relate yourself to everything in a story, cause you're not the only one going through shit, everyone does- so there's no need for the whole "Trigger Warning" or "Stop Edgy Content" debate, its the tone of the story- some will like it, some won't, some will have problems with it, some others won't.

Its an experience, and an experience shouldn't be watered down due to unrelated discomfort.