We lost 70% of our player base half a year in

[ElysiumDragon]

Ah yes, Endwalker's launch, when we had queues in the several thousands, compared to now, where I STILL have to queue unless it's 3am.

Game's fine, if a bit dry for content at the moment.

[BluexBird]

Not sure if it's been said already, but specifically for FFXIV, it's extremely common for the overall server population to drop massively in-between patches. Especially since we're now towards the end of the raid tier. Just wait until the next set of raid content comes out, and you'll see a boost again.

Some people literally just come back to do the recent content, and then go on a break again until the next patch. So if you're going to say we're "losing players", make sure you factor these things in.

[Renathras]

I hate to break it to you, but FFXIV is not "dying and on its way out". Hyperbole much? o.O

Healing has been this way since ShB, and WHM has been this way arguably since SB. People complained about Healers being too complex in HW and some of SB, and too easy since ShB, yet the Healer population seems to be higher now than it was in HW and SB. The people that prefer DPS have swapped to DPS Jobs and the Healer Jobs have been filled in their absence. Many people play Healers that want more complexity (many swap to SCH and AST) and would like more, but many like it the way it is, too, and at least for now, it's pretty stable. Tanks are still most often AiN, and generally the last slots to fill in PF groups.

The endgame has been this way since SB, if not HW. They've been very consistent with this formula for over half a decade now, and it has seen the game have consistent and sustainable growth.

They're working on the hairstyles and headgear for the new races (as well as Fem Hrothgars), but that isn't a major driving factor for most of the playerbase. The people that care about it REALLY care about it, that's true, and I don't mean to make light of their plight, but the amount of people that will quit over not having bunny ears and a hat are a REALLY small sliver of the player base. Most just kinda put up with it (or race change) and grudgingly wait for the Devs to get around to it.

An ENTIRE year of...what? Lots of complaining, but most feedback has been taken and the game continues to be stable. The housing lottery bug is a big deal, but keep in mind the amount of players engaged with housing (while more than with hairstyles and helms) is still RELATIVELY small, and they seem to have gotten it fixed at this point.

And no, they WILL NOT be losing "the remaining player base".

What you have to understand is a ton of people came to FFXIV when WoW imploded. So FFXIV got a massive bounce. Now we're in a mid-expansion, late patch content lull and a lot of people have backed off. The people that MSQ only have unsubbed until the next patch adds more MSQ, the raiders done with P4S and DSR have backed off as well until the next raid releases, and everyone else is vibing and alright.

Is the game PERFECT?

No, not at all.

But stow the hyperbole, it isn't "dying" or on the verge of losing "the remaining player base". And as others have said, your statistic is based entirely on Steam, which is both a small portion of the overall player base AND probably weighted more heavily by those new/temporary entrants to the game post-WoW.

FFXIV has grown over the years by being stable and consistent, and so it remains. Making big, sweeping changes "FAST" in response to complaints from a tiny sliver of the community (people on forums complaining are NOT a large majority of the player base) are the exact opposite of the formula that FFXIV has used for 8+ years that has led to it being the big successful juggernaut that it is today.

[Vahlnir]

And no, they WILL NOT be losing "the remaining player base".

What you have to understand is a ton of people came to FFXIV when WoW imploded. So FFXIV got a massive bounce. Now we're in a mid-expansion, late patch content lull and a lot of people have backed off. The people that MSQ only have unsubbed until the next patch adds more MSQ, the raiders done with P4S and DSR have backed off as well until the next raid releases, and everyone else is vibing and alright.

Yeah. I've got more than my fair share of bones to pick with the game currently, and I am VERY unhappy about some things, but the game is still pretty active despite being in a bit of lull. A quick trip to Limsa and most other places shows that they still has a lot of people running around and/or hanging out. Queues aren't bad either. What FF XIV has a problem with handling though is content longevity (among other things, but I digress), so we will have to see how many people stick around for the long haul and make a more accurate judgement then. After leaving WoW, some may still be in the honeymoon period. Once that fades, we'll see what happens.

[DPZ2]

After leaving WoW, some may still be in the honeymoon period. Once that fades, we'll see what happens.

If every WoW refugee leaves this game, it will still be popular enough to make money for Square Enix. There have been, and continue to be, content producers on social media for the game. The Reddit and Twitter communities will still include players who both create and read and remark on the game. There will still be an active FFXIV forum, five years from now, complete with posters who will complain about this-and-that and other posters who will make suggestions to "make the game better so that the entire player community does not abandon the game".

Heck, there are still active players for Lord of the Rings Online now celebrating 15 years of play, even in the face of a final shutdown of the servers in January of next year. Even Old School Runescape is still attracting new players.

[Vahlnir]

If every WoW refugee leaves this game, it will still be popular enough to make money for Square Enix. There have been, and continue to be, content producers on social media for the game. The Reddit and Twitter communities will still include players who both create and read and remark on the game. There will still be an active FFXIV forum, five years from now, complete with posters who will complain about this-and-that and other posters who will make suggestions to "make the game better so that the entire player community does not abandon the game".

Heck, there are still active players for Lord of the Rings Online now celebrating 15 years of play, even in the face of a final shutdown of the servers in January of next year. Even Old School Runescape is still attracting new players.

Oh yeah, it wouldn't stop being profitable in that scenario, and that won't change for a long time I'm guessing. I'm not doomsaying at all here, for the record. What I was mostly saying is that we will have a more accurate read on the game's popularity as it starts to stand on its own again instead of being propped up by those fleeing other MMOs, and as those who migrated here begin to see the cracks in the floor. Can it keep the upward trend going? Only time will tell. The ball is in SE's court as far as that is concerned. I hope they can. Truly.

[hagare]

Honestly, it's strange that they haven't yet. That's basically their MO. Make a post, get proven wrong, delete contents of post. I had a feeling that they seemed familiar. Their handling of their other thread all but confirms it.

well then, their intent is obvious.

[anhaato]

well then, their intent is obvious.

I'm still waiting for one of you to tell me what my intent is. I didn't even know I had some nefarious scheme behind my posts, but since you all know so much about me maybe you could convince me otherwise.

[hagare]

I'm still waiting for one of you to tell me what my intent is. I didn't even know I had some nefarious scheme behind my posts, but since you all know so much about me maybe you could convince me otherwise.

nah

That's for you find out.

[Theodric]

I can vouch for Anhaato. He isn't the alt of a certain Highlander if that is the concern.