Quote Originally Posted by Priddy View Post

And part of this work needs to be retrofitted to existing MSQ content, ARR ESPECIALLY to help break down that massive new player filter.

I understand there is a cost associated with these requests, but this really needs to be a priority. If it's truly not cost-possible while maintaining current content standards elsewhere, then resources need to be divested from other parts of the game to make this happen. The real question is, would players really accept a better MSQ experience if it means only one ultimate per expansion? Or maybe only 5 zones per expansion? Or a longer release cycle?

To be honest, I kinda doubt it.
100% agree with this. This is probably one of the main barriers that stops most people from continuing to play the game. A lot of new players, especially people that are new to Final Fantasy, are not going to sit through hundreds of hours of cutscenes and walls of text. And is not a problem only to ARR. As good as HW story is the gameplay in the MSQ is lacking. I hear FFXIV players tell new players that "it gets better after you reach HW". Does it really get better? I mean the story does but the MSQ gameplay remains the same.

After Shadowrbringers it got a little better, but I think that was mainly because they introduced the bicolor gemstones to fates and it kind of broke the monotony a little bit. Regardless, I don't think they will ever spend resources on overhauling the MSQ from previous expansions, but on ARR since is technically the new player experience they definitely should.

And I don't think we should sacrifice current content so they can work on ARR. The player count has grown significantly and so has their revenue, so they should be able to manage both. Besides is not a pressing need to it can be done slowly over the course of the next couple of years.