What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Absurdity]

You mean the lacking diversity? If you look at the big picture FFXVI has a LOT of positive buzz around it. Hyped to no end before release, like it would save gaming or something.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if the diversity complaints from online gaming rags boosted sales, I call it the "Hogwarts Legacy effect".

[Vyrerus]

I actually wouldn't be surprised if the diversity complaints from online gaming rags boosted sales, I call it the "Hogwarts Legacy effect".

Nah, the game wasn't already out/close enough to being out for people to try and call for boycotts and stuff. The press cycle for 16 was so long, it got to be too long. Whereas Hogwarts Legacy sorta just arrived simultaneously with the call to sperg out against it. (plus, you know, with Japanese creators vs. JK Rowling there wasn't as big of a boogeyman figure to rally against)

[Theodric]

Yeah, I don't think it had much of an impact since outside of the social media bubble, a lot of gamers simply don't pay attention to the sort of drama commonly associated with Twitter and certain gaming news outlets.

[BRVV]

Yeah, I don't think it had much of an impact since outside of the social media bubble, a lot of gamers simply don't pay attention to the sort of drama commonly associated with Twitter and certain gaming news outlets.

I had one article in my feed with a headline like "<Some group> are calling out FFXVI's lack of diversity". In the last months i had a lot of "FFXVI is the best game ever" - type articles in my feed. I searched almost nothing about FFXVI, but obviously about a lot of FF(XIV). Most articles were praising the game almost religiously. Such is standard with a hyped game now. Game journos want to keep getting those precious early review copies.

[Amnmaat]

I think it had a big effect on sales; square enix disappointed at sales and now yoship blaming ps5 is a diversionary tactic. The game definitely suffered from his comments on adding Black people and in-game production decisions.

[Absimiliard]

Final Fantasy XVI's story is mid at best, and I found its gameplay to be an utter disappointment. Soken's music is hard carrying that Great Value DmC knockoff. And yes, I do mean DmC. I'd have been kinda salty if I'd actually had to pay for it.

[VentVanitas]

I had the chance to briefly play XVI while at a relative's house. To be honest, it feels more like a game from the mid 2000s rather than a current year triple A title. Don't know why CBU3 thought the questing formula from XIV was so good they had to completely reuse it in their brand new game.

I think I'd sooner play Stranger of Paradise over XVI if I wanted to play a Final Fantasy hack-and-slash game.

[Supersnow845]

16 to me had three main problems that interacted with each other

1) the demo set the game up as a game that it wasn’t, the demo was very game of thrones esque and this continued into at least the fight with benedikta, as soon as ultima came around that plot got thrown in the trash
2) I know the message it’s sending but the volume of time dedicated to fleshing out in every possible way just how f…..Ed up the treatment of bearers is got really tiring after a while and I don’t think the bearer plotline really added much to the story other than just being a “we can make you hate this character by showing you how they treat bearers”
3) as everyone has pointed out ad nauseum the quest structure was trash

So to me the game was a 11/10 till benedikta died, by the time the credits rolled it was maybe a strong 7

[ReynTime]

I had the chance to briefly play XVI while at a relative's house. To be honest, it feels more like a game from the mid 2000s rather than a current year triple A title. Don't know why CBU3 thought the questing formula from XIV was so good they had to completely reuse it in their brand new game.

I think I'd sooner play Stranger of Paradise over XVI if I wanted to play a Final Fantasy hack-and-slash game.

Sentiments I share 100%.
This is what I meant when I said SE's triple A teams play catch-up with designs or features that were already done better 10+ years ago.

They desperately need to give the next Final Fantasy to someone who isn't one of their 40+ old big names like Nomura, Toriyama or Yoshida, because those guys have been doing nothing to evolve the franchise in any of the sub-genres it represents.

[Absimiliard]

I think I'd sooner play Stranger of Paradise over XVI if I wanted to play a Final Fantasy hack-and-slash game.