This is the anti-capitalist message we all need to hear in 2023. Too many companies are trying to compete with our time these days. Blizzard, Smilegate, EA, Riot, etc. all want us to play their games all the time. Square Enix has the opposite view: we
shouldn't play their game any more than necessary. Yoshida would agree that gaming is a vice that gets in the way of raising families and having real fun, not fake fun like MMOs offer. A video game can be enjoyed for an hour or two each week, but anything beyond that is unnatural and is a key part of why the modern world is disintegrating. We all need to learn to unplug and, most importantly, disconnect from the almighty dollar. Yoshida and CBU3 are among the most forward-thinking people in gaming for recognizing that people need to be decoupled from mass-market consumerism for our own sake.
Hopefully, when Yoshida retires, he can be a bit more vocal about his views and hopefully spark a sea change in the entertainment industry. For our own health, and for the planet, it's time to stop excessive consumption.
"Too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by [how long our MMOs last for]. But we've discovered that owning things and consuming things [and subscribing to Final Fantasy XIV] does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We've learned that piling up material goods [and relics] cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose."
Not to mention the price that labor has to pay as well. Imagine the pressure for all those workers to make this additional content. Are they even unionized? Do they get paid a living wage? How much of FFXIV would have to be outsourced if we get more content? Do people really want their game turning into a sweatshop? Since most of us support CBU3 and Yoshida's healthy living initiatives, we can all agree that we need to prioritize ethics over content. If there's any chance that our subscriptions can be used for labor exploitation like
Blizzard, we should put our foot down and say no.