A Lived in World?

[OgruMogru]

Lobbies are all you will see when you choose to only sit in one.

I know the lobbies are there but I rarely choose to enter them. That's why it's not a lobby game to me. I'll usually dash in when a new raid is released to see the story but I spend the bulk of my time doing content not gated by a lobby. Other than the trials and CT, there's no need to enter a lobby to complete the MSQ now that we have Duty Support. The only time anyone has to enter a lobby outside of that is if they want the reward that is exclusive to the lobby content.

The game has no finish line. The game only has a construction barrier with a sign that reads "New expansion coming in the future" and occasionally we get glimpses of the construction before it's completed and we get to enter.

I suppose what's most noticeable to me is that the game has got -more- lobby centric as time has gone on so perhaps that's why it feels more egregious. I know the game can be approached in different ways to different people and that's cool! I know the game is ongoing so there's no true "endpoint" but I feel like it should be pointed out that each patch has it's own end point that a lot of people keep current with so it's fine to say it's not a lobby game to you but that doesn't mean it isn't a lobby game for a lot of people that engage with the content that's right up against that "coming soon!" barrier - thats where the whole concept of endgame even comes from, of course people don't literally consider it the end point because we all know it's an ongoing game. There are certain objectives and goals that people that engage with the endgame do on the regular and they are all lobby-centric. All combat content that's not fates and hunt trains is lobby based. It's fine they've added duty support and if you're just poodling around collecting your tomes and gearing up in your own time you obviously won't be interacting with these lobbies as much but like almost all of the games content is lobby based and placed at the *end point* of any given patch even if you personally don't do them.

Not that I'm advocating for the removal of PF or anything [jesus christ what a nightmare] but things felt a lot different when you had to seek parties out in larger towns for raids or farms, even having to travel with your party to the raid entrance went a long way in making the player more integrated into the world. I think it would be healthier for both those engaging in "endgame" AND people that play more chill and on their own terms if there was less separation between those groups of people even on the most shallowest level. You can come wave and emote at the raiders gathering outside the raid entrance on your way doing fates or hunts or w/e even just that small silly bit of no-stakes interactivity would help!