Just remaster XI with XIVs Engine please

[Alchemii]

Yeah, the spirit of XI lies in its freedom of exploration, dangerous overworld that felt huge, and the need to collaborate to get anything meaningful done in the game.

Travel was content unto itself, combat was slower and methodical. Jobs were unbalanced but incredibly unique. The game basically excelled and thrived on everything XIV cut. They are almost opposites in a way.

If square managed to introduce a $15.00 subscription tier for access to XIV and the XI remaster and make it like WOW and WOW classic exist separately then I think a lot of people would sub to that. When you want slow progression adventure you play XI, when you want the fast paced modern stuff you play XIV.

It makes sense.

That's the thing though. FFXI has kept it's sub-model this entire time, has not introduced microtransactions in any meaningful way (yes I remember the Tidal Talisman I have mine wrapped around and hanging from my mic over my desk), and yet it is still Profitable. We know it's Profitable, because the Upper Management has wanted to shut down FFXI since the 1.0 Launch of FFXIV, and has yet to actually justify doing so.

[Ath192]

That's the thing though. FFXI has kept it's sub-model this entire time, has not introduced microtransactions in any meaningful way (yes I remember the Tidal Talisman I have mine wrapped around and hanging from my mic over my desk), and yet it is still Profitable. We know it's Profitable, because the Upper Management has wanted to shut down FFXI since the 1.0 Launch of FFXIV, and has yet to actually justify doing so.

You know, I don’t think they want to shut down XI and leave an unplayable game in their mainline series. If a FF fan wants to play all the final fantasy games they should be able to do so. At least I think that’s what SE is going for. To suggest they want to shut down a game but can’t because it’s profitable would indicate there’s malice towards their own franchise.

Not to mention XI was SEs most profitable game ever until XIV surpassed it.

I do think the games stubbornness to die has actually delayed its remake though, but if it died due to lack of players it would probably get an offline remake. So I’d rather see it continued and get remastered as a old school type of MMO for those who don’t like the modern formula.

[Ephremjlm]

Not to mention XI was SEs most profitable game ever until XIV surpassed it.

Lmao and let the records show that that didn't happen until the WOW and Asmon exudes in like 2021, a whole 10.5 years since the 1.0 launch and 19 years into FFXI's lifespan.

[Alice9]

Anyone who is contemplating giving XI a shot out of curiosity- just try it. You won't regret it.

[Ath192]

I honestly don't remember where I saw it (maybe the FFXI anniversary website) but I think SE has stated that they have succeeded in virtualizing the PS2 dev kits, meaning that there could in theory be more possibilities for FFXI, such as new console launches, and even new content, or updated scrapped content with assets that were never used (think the original city with the train, and chocobo forest). That said, the team is so ungodly small right now that I think its probably a fever dream to assume that would happen.

The only thing I could see happening is console launches if they can do it in the right amount of dev hour time, especially as FFXIV is completely stable on Xbox, and they decide that maybe they do want to go ahead with the combined sub of like $20-$25. In that case bundling them would make a ton of sense, and we have already seen "other" options in the classic space make very easy to use launchers with an insanely fast download, so we know its possible.

Maybe then and only then do I see them doing anything more. I feel like the mobile game debacle kinda wrecked it for us though in any more investment into FFXI the game.

You know, I'm glad it didn't come out as a cell phone game. IDK I just think it would've been a flop and I bet they realized it too. As far as console launches go it would be more meaningful if the game had an HD update. I don't think its the platform that keeps that game from taking off again, its the horribly outdated UI/Controls and Graphics imo.

I know that what keeps me from playing it now. It just feels like such a dinosaur to operate and for a "slow" MMO, visual fidelity actually matters a ton. Back then, it was this beautiful grand world because it was literally cutting edge at the time. And so at least I would get lost in the zones and the game would keep me looking at it. I would look at the ocean on the boats, I would look at my character casting a spell and executing it, everything felt like a moment and special.

Basically that's what I yearn for, just a really good remaster of the game.

An example of this, and a game that was resurrected from death was Age of Empires II. I don't know if you this story but that was a beloved franchise in the 90s, but setting up lan parties and the huge amount of lag and outdated systems eventually whittled down the games fanbase to only the most stubborn players. Then, Bill Gates hosted a fateful AMA on reddit when a unknown hero asked him to remake the games. He actually said Yes.

Well, we got Age of Empires II: The Definitive Edition, which was a gorgeous and faithfully recreated version of the game and it is massively successful and still pumping out expansions packs to this day.

[Kewitt]

I would love to play FFXI if it looked like FFXIV...
Even with the slowish combat.

[Alchemii]

You know, I don’t think they want to shut down XI and leave an unplayable game in their mainline series. If a FF fan wants to play all the final fantasy games they should be able to do so. At least I think that’s what SE is going for. To suggest they want to shut down a game but can’t because it’s profitable would indicate there’s malice towards their own franchise.

Not to mention XI was SEs most profitable game ever until XIV surpassed it.

They've announced no new content for FFXI no less than 3 times. Once was after Wings of the Goddess, once was after Seekers of Adoulin, and then they did it again with Rhapsodies of Vana'diel. In MMO's that's how you announce your ending a game, by saying there will be no new content. Yet FFXI keep trucking along, not dying out, and easily making enough money to justify not shutting it down. But it's also not making enough money to allow them to do another Expansion for it. Just enough to keep producing mini-expansions and content.

This is why I believe it needs a Remake at this point. A lot of what's keeping people away is just how dated the game is. In both visuals and it's interface. Not to mention, as it stands, a lot of things in the game just aren't that intuitive. Like just look at Tanking. Sure War gets Provoke, but you won't always sub War. So you need to know how to tank without the immediate threat grabber ability.

I would love to play FFXI if it looked like FFXIV...
Even with the slowish combat.

The slow combat is part of the charm. If I could get a group together for it I'd love to go all in with a fresh character for FFXI. Start to Endgame.

[BigCheez]

There just isn't a big enough market for a FFXI remake. It would either be DoA or need to be changed so much that FFXI players wouldn't like it, in which case who are you making it for?

[Ephremjlm]

I know that what keeps me from playing it now. It just feels like such a dinosaur to operate and for a "slow" MMO, visual fidelity actually matters a ton. Back then, it was this beautiful grand world because it was literally cutting edge at the time. And so at least I would get lost in the zones and the game would keep me looking at it. I would look at the ocean on the boats, I would look at my character casting a spell and executing it, everything felt like a moment and special.

Yeah I guess it depends. Im playing Rdm and on a classic server with graphics mods and then I pay for FFXI sub to support, thats what does it for me. The ultra HD packs make the world feel fresh but again the polygon count is what trips me up lol. I know im probably considered a boomer for this but I love the combat. I like the fact that you need to communicate in the game. The problem with FFXIV's combat is there is basically no communication, and its just a memorized set of dodge and stack mechanics, with rotations.

If there was ever an update, I would want them to go the blue mage route. Id be curious to see what the populations true reaction would be after playing.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

Lmao and let the records show that that didn't happen until the WOW and Asmon exudes in like 2021, a whole 10.5 years since the 1.0 launch and 19 years into FFXI's lifespan.

I mean, first it had to overcome almost bankrupting square. So it’s not like it was wow or asmon that really did that. It just took that long to overcome the deficit.