How should the next expansion be handled? For new players/characters?

[Tanis_Ebonhart]

Endwalker was said to be the end of the story started since ARR, and next expansion would be a new story. So, how should this be reflected towards new platers/characters? Should they still start in ARR or begin at the start of this new story?

[Kaurhz]

Start in ARR - and make the price of the 7.0 story skip cost the same as Tales of Adventure: Heavensward

[Jojoya]

Endwalker was said to be the end of the story started since ARR, and next expansion would be a new story. So, how should this be reflected towards new platers/characters? Should they still start in ARR or begin at the start of this new story?

SE has been working on creating a new starting point for the game to benefit new players/characters.

I expect it to get mentioned at the FanFests this year since 7.0 would be the perfect time to implement it. Whether they'll give new characters a choice of starting points or they will automatically get the new starting point with the option to play ARR-EW via New Game+, I don't know.

[Iscah]

One voucher for a free story skip and job boost included with the purchase of 7.0, which the player can choose to use immediately or save for an alt later.

The story for 7.0 can aim to be a "non-confusing entry point" but should not try to pretend that newcomers are meeting the characters for the first time.

[Seraphor]

One voucher for a free story skip and job boost included with the purchase of 7.0, which the player can choose to use immediately or save for an alt later.

The story for 7.0 can aim to be a "non-confusing entry point" but should not try to pretend that newcomers are meeting the characters for the first time.

This is pretty much the only sensible compromise I can think of too, and it would be a compromise, in every way it's plastering over a fundamentally unsolvable problem.
Perhaps using this new 7.0 boost comes with a short summary of the WoLs journey so far, an abridged version, that takes place in a 10-15 minute cutscene or over the course of a couple of bonus 'starter' quests. In a similar way to how ARR solved for 1.0's destruction, but on a five-times larger scale.

[CaedemSanguis]

a free skip (story & levelling) + a long cutscene with the main point of 2.0 -> 6.0 story

[Tanis_Ebonhart]

a free skip (story & levelling) + a long cutscene with the main point of 2.0 -> 6.0 story

Cutscenes are nice, though hopefully they get a short break between each expansion themed catch-up cutscene.

[Canadane]

It would be cool if there was an alternative level 1 starting MSQ.
Something to level a new level 1 class or two they can introduce for the vets. And something new players can opt to choose and be in line with older players just the same.

[R041]

SE has been working on creating a new starting point for the game to benefit new players/characters.

I expect it to get mentioned at the FanFests this year since 7.0 would be the perfect time to implement it. Whether they'll give new characters a choice of starting points or they will automatically get the new starting point with the option to play ARR-EW via New Game+, I don't know.

This is speculation - Do you have hard evidence that they're doing this, or is it the community coping? I would ASSUME they would do it, but I can't find any hard evidence.

[Jojoya]

This is speculation - Do you have hard evidence that they're doing this, or is it the community coping? I would ASSUME they would do it, but I can't find any hard evidence.

YoshiP said they were working on it because they know the game needs it after a decade. Too many potential new players get turned off by the length of the MSQ.

I'm fairly certain it was the 10 year plan Live Letter when it was mentioned but I would have to go back through a bunch of video to verify and I'm really not interested in spending that much time on it.

Yes, it's speculation on my part that it will happen in 7.0 and not at a later date. With 7.0 being the beginning of the next major story arc for the game, it is also the perfect time to introduce a new starting point.

Could they have changed their minds or delayed development on the new starting point for some reason? Of course. Things change in development regularly and they generally don't keep the player base informed on what they plan until they're about ready to implement. There are other things that have been mentioned in passing over the years that have yet to happen and yet continue to get mentioned as things they are either still working on or waiting for technology (usually on the consumer end) to advance enough to allow.

All we can do is wait to see what information gets shared at the FanFests.