Please communicate with the players regarding JOB balances.

[LittleImp]

They trying to get them participation levels up.

No I will be honest I think Yoshi P knows this game does not have 10 more years left. Likely SE is cutting the budget even more now that the story is finished.

They're probably laying the groundwork to put this game on life-support.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if there was a new MMO project in its very early stages at SE, which Yoshida will be working on in earnest after FF16 is completed.

[IdowhatIwant]

They're probably laying the groundwork to put this game on life-support.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if there was a new MMO project in its very early stages at SE, which Yoshida will be working on in earnest after FF16 is completed.

Eh, for all we actually know. This game was successful because that devs from FFXI helped rework it from 1.0 to 2.0. Yoshi P may have had very little to do with it. He definitely seems like nothing more than a PR rep at this point.

[LisSquid]

They're probably laying the groundwork to put this game on life-support.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if there was a new MMO project in its very early stages at SE, which Yoshida will be working on in earnest after FF16 is completed.

I honestly think it's the obvious. All these changes feel like they are making this game so 'accessible' (I hate this word) that is appeals to a very large group of people. We saw this with every MMO before. They do expect to be online for 10 more years, and how old players feel is irrelevant. They only care about new players who will buy expansions and items off the mogstation. This isn't to talk smack this is just what the business is.

[Broken_Wind]

I honestly think it's the obvious. All these changes feel like they are making this game so 'accessible' (I hate this word) that is appeals to a very large group of people. We saw this with every MMO before. They do expect to be online for 10 more years, and how old players feel is irrelevant. They only care about new players who will buy expansions and items off the mogstation. This isn't to talk smack this is just what the business is.

I think its better to cater to the 'normal' player, and to be honest I think the normal player doesnt mind a challenge, but doesnt mind if there isnt one as long as its fun to run through.
The higher end players say they want a challenge, but when faced with people who dont catch on as quickly as they do they become frustrated. This makes the experience bad for both them and the newer players. So since these players arent going to be happy in either case, they go for the path that will cause the least conflict.

Bottom line is if you have a MMORPG as popular as FFXIV you don't phase it out to a new MMO, because its an extremely low chance your new one is as popular.