Anyone else just feeling really disapointed this expansion?*vent*

[SturmChurro]

Optimistically the games will be sub-based - as while I am enjoying ESO much more than I think I ever have FFXIV outside of the MSQ (until its EW bellyflop), I fully believe quality tends to be better in games with a non-optional subscription model, in the long run. Or at least, are supposed to be.

The problem will be maintaining that subscription - if they choose to launch with it - rather than giving up a year in because numbers aren't where they hoped and turning it b2p/f2p. I'd hope Riot at least is smart enough to wait for a bit before doing such a thing, but this is also with the hope it will be sub-based to begin with and not f2p from the start (with their usual heavy monetization that we can see in LoL). Either way, looking forward to hearing more about their upcoming MMO.

I don't plan on another massive MMO move any time soon, as I'm quite content in ESO right now, but I never turn down potential competition in the market. Competition only breeds better performance on the part of developers, and I feel part of why FFXIV is suffering right now is - aside from FF16 development - there's not really any true competition out there right now. Perhaps WoW's newest expansion will provide a resurgence and bring it back into scope as a decent competitor, but a single game can only do so much on that front.

I kind of think they would do an optional subscription if there was to be one (or, more likely, a battlepass). Ashes probably will be (or is) buy to play. Riot's could be good, and I'd almost place a bet that the gameplay itself will be good, but I am concerned that they will bring over similar monetization systems from their other games, or perhaps "pay for convenience" - which literally means they made the game inconvenient to be able to sell these sort of items in the first place.

I could easily see them launching it free to play with paid expansions, or buy to play with paid expansions, but, unfortunately, non-optional subscriptions are more and more becoming outdated for games, and, frankly, a lot of people nowadays just don't want to pay for it in general, especially with how many different things require subscriptions nowadays.

I definitely think more competition in the market is a good thing, even if someone doesn't intend on switching games.

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

I kind of think they would do an optional subscription if there was to be one (or, more likely, a battlepass). Ashes probably will be (or is) buy to play. Riot's could be good, and I'd almost place a bet that the gameplay itself will be good, but I am concerned that they will bring over similar monetization systems from their other games, or perhaps "pay for convenience" -which literally means they made the game inconvenient to be able to sell these sort of items in the first place.

I could easily see them launching it free to play with paid expansions, or buy to play with paid expansions, but, unfortunately, non-optional subscriptions are more and more becoming outdated for games, and, frankly, a lot of people nowadays just don't want to pay for it in general. Especially with how many different things require subscriptions nowadays. I definitely think more competition in the market is a good thing, even if someone doesn't intend on switching games.

Unfortunately likely, since it is Riot. But, I suppose in the end what matters is quality of the game and what it offers or does better than its competitors. Just, I get the feeling b2p/f2p games will always have difficulty competing with subscription games for a lot of people... so here's hoping. But we aren't likely to see how things go for another couple of years, at the very least.

[SturmChurro]

...

I don't view FFXIV as being very predatory. Other games have massive cash shops as well, these shops include "limited time" sales, a premium battlepass, literal pay to win.. Yes, I also often view cosmetic items as potentially being predatory, and I touched on "pay for convenience" in my previous post. One could argue that certain aspects of FFXIV's store are predatory, such as retainers, or just how many things are character bound, but, in my opinion, it is not on the level of others in the market. This does not give it a free pass however - especially when many of the items in said cash shop aren't even up to a standard of quality to justify their cost.. which I have touched on in other threads.

FFXIV is relatively well received, but as people's opinions sour, we will see more eyes on the cash shop and, most likely, more criticism levied that way.

Unfortunately likely, since it is Riot. But, I suppose in the end what matters is quality of the game and what it offers or does better than its competitors. Just, I get the feeling b2p/f2p games will always have difficulty competing with subscription games for a lot of people... so here's hoping. But we aren't likely to see how things go for another couple of years, at the very least.

Yes, unfortunately, what we have is all we will have for awhile in terms of mmorpgs. Buy to play and free to play can have a lot of people. I think it's just that there isn't really anything in the market that can outcompete the subscription based mmorpgs we already have for players, and FFXIV has been the only one I can think of to really retain their model and still compete. If someone is going to pay for a subscription they will just pay it for one of these instead. We would have to have something really good, or some sort of shift, to displace what we have already in the genre.

...

One big problem is this game doesn't really have lasting content, while yes, dedicated players will generally get through things relatively quickly, there is nothing to really do in this game once you are endgame other than AFK or go clubbing.. or whatever people do. There are a few novelties to collect yes, but it's not really interesting nor does it feel very rewarding.

Things could be better, and I'd like to see them get better.

[Carin-Eri]

I don't view FFXIV as being very predatory. Other games have massive cash shops as well, these shops include "limited time" sales, a premium battlepass, literal pay to win.. Yes, I also often view cosmetic items as potentially being predatory, and I touched on "pay for convenience" in my previous post. One could argue that certain aspects of FFXIV's store are predatory, such as retainers, or just how many things are character bound, but, in my opinion, it is not on the level of others in the market. This does not give it a free pass however - especially when many of the items in said cash shop aren't even up to a standard of quality to justify their cost.. which I have touched on in other threads.

I don't think FFXIV is very predatory at all.

Whilst I don't want to name names, the game I played prior to FFXIV was very much so. Free to Play 'on the tin' only. Whilst there might be an argument that nothing said game sold was essential per-se, they were/are very much committed to:
- The Loot Box model and, needless to say, made the grand prize very attractive.
- Selling big ticket bundles (£200 - £300) containing much sought after items, often items from the older loot boxes with the addition of tons of fluff to justify the price-point
- FOMO - both in terms of the above (SALE - buy before it's gone-type nonsense) and time-limited in-game events with a buyout for those players unable to log in every day to collect daily progress

Although the fact that the Devs are quite adversarial and the CM useless certainly didn't help either.

Eitherway, I do feel that FFXIV has a sustainable business model, whereas F2P models such as the one I described might find themselves in trouble if they don't learn to read the room in terms of the Cost of Living issues that are being experienced in several countries.