r/ffxivdiscussion: What can Square Enix do to help fix the terrible netcode of FFXIV?

[Amnmaat]

FFXIV is still using netcode from 2001. Yes, it uses FFXI's netcode where the server has to ping the user before anything happens in the game. This is why there's no real private servers out there, everything has to be approved in the server itself before you see it happen on your screen. It's a server-side game.

Client-sided games are more direct; what you do on your screen happens immediately and then gets approved by the server; this lowers delay because you can keep sending data over.

[UkcsAlias]

FFXIV is still using netcode from 2001.

Thats not an excuse for bad netcode. Netcode is something that falls under basic management. Just like when adding extra content you might run into memory issues (compression, RAM management), making sure the netcode doesnt cause lag is a thing that needs to be maintained over time.

That client side data needs to get approved before the movement takes place is trivial for netcode. The client doesnt need to wait for this, they can just move and send the updates, only when the diffirence between client and server expectation exceeds a treshold it can rebound you to the proper position the server stated. This is called lag compensation and is a massive balance factor for netcode. Without it playing online will cause people to get nausea as lag in movement towards expectation is quite inconvenient (this is why some people in racing games can get dizzy when in cockpit view). Good netcode only corrects upon detecting errors, and this game already does that.

The real problem is that we get delayed information, and simply do not get the delay added upon the lag compensation. Causing a lot of mechanics to feel unfair since the server already decided you got hit while on your screen it was a miss. And worse is, this gap can be 1s. That is simply not acceptable. In that second you can get several roundbacks in pinging. The game is highly unreliable in showing you proper information. Which means that a lot of AoE markers just arent reliable information on knowing when the hit takes place. Causing a lot of mechanics that could have been a plain dodge system, now need to show the information well ahead in time (and often it does through boss animations).

But this bad netcode caused 1 good thing: it realy pushed the 'boss animation is relaible' part where markers are just to hint about its impact shape etc. Even if the netcode improves, that design shouldnt change. I dont want a 'its down to reflexes' everywhere.

[Sebazy]

FFXIV is still using netcode from 2001. Yes, it uses FFXI's netcode where the server has to ping the user before anything happens in the game. This is why there's no real private servers out there, everything has to be approved in the server itself before you see it happen on your screen. It's a server-side game.

Client-sided games are more direct; what you do on your screen happens immediately and then gets approved by the server; this lowers delay because you can keep sending data over.

I think you're misunderstanding how client/server games work, not to mention massively underestimating just how much client trust FFXIV has put in the player over the years.

Back in ARR it was possible to tell the server you levelled up through handins and such. And no, I'm not even kidding, go dig around and you'll find videos of RMT bots quite literally levelling themselves up multiple levels nigh instantly whilst merrily stood around in town.

Suggesting that everything has to be approved via the server is also wildly missing the mark, have you missed all the RMT teleporting around usually under the world? Go stand by the Uldah Aetherite and you'll generally get a bit of a rude awakening, if you don't see any activity there, again go look on YouTube. Countless examples.

IMHO the issue at the core of FFXIV's netcode is as I've said many times, it boils down to cost savings on SE's part. A slow tick and update rate to keep server and connectivity costs as low as possible. SE have history here and they've always done their best in MMOs to reduce server costs wherever they can get away with it.