Why casual players don't 'just leave'

[Evergrey]

FFXIV is the only MMO game that fits these following critera:

1. Game is still receiving updates, and isn't actively being sunset.
2. Game has a substantial pool of people to interact with.
3. Game actually has an immersive world to engage with.
4. Game has a substantial amount of avenues for player expression.
5. Game isn't gacha/P2W garbage.
6. Game has a reasonable amount of (non-completionist) content to interact with outside of the progression treadmill.

I would personally say that ESO fits in there as well.

1. It receives regular updates.
2. With the mega servers there's never a shortage of people to interact with.
3. The game world is big and immersive. And with the level sync all zones always stays relevant so no zone will turn into a "dead zone" as zones often do when people have out leveled it and moved on.
4. Players can express themselves with the freedom of choice with how any class can play whatever role. No armor/weapon lock to specific classes. Cosmetic/Transmog system. Players can "equip" skins, personalities (and more) that drastically change how their character looks.
5. Game has a store that sells Cosmetics and more. Only thing people might argue is close to P2W is the optional subscription that gives some perks like an infinite crafting material "bag". Edit: ESO does have crates though. Still optional but they contain a bunch of cosmetical options. So that would be a downside.
6. There's plenty of stuff to do. But one most people from FFXIV might find most interesting is that houses aren't limited and can be decorated with great freedom with a huge variety of items.
   Considering how Houses seems to be what keeps a lot of people from leaving FFXIV.

[Eyrilona]

I would personally say that ESO fits in there as well.

My qualm with ESO is that it is kind of dishonest. It acts like you can play for free, when in reality a paid sub is pretty much a necessity if you want to be able to enjoy the game, those QoL perks that come with the paid sub don't feel like optional luxuries, they're bare essentials in a game with so few inventory slots by default.

[Evergrey]

My qualm with ESO is that it is kind of dishonest. It acts like you can play for free, when in reality a paid sub is pretty much a necessity if you want to be able to enjoy the game, those QoL perks that come with the paid sub don't feel like optional luxuries, they're bare essentials in a game with so few inventory slots by default.

If one plans on playing ESO regularly then yes, the sub will be necessary for the added perks it gives. And the subscription gives access to the old Expansions/DLC's for the duration.
But since people here on FFXIV already pay a sub regardless I see no real difference from paying an optional sub on ESO.
Besides, since it's optional one can unsub and can still jump in and play occasionally. That's what I've been doing lately when my focus has been on other games.
I can still jump in and do, let's say seasonal events without spending money on the sub.
And I've been able to play for like a week at a time each month for months now.
I just have to manage my inventory more.
Which anyone already does do in FFXIV anyways.

Oh, and if people in FFXIV wants to have extra storage for, let's say crafting materials you'd have to cash out more than just a sub for extra retainers.
Where in ESO one has unlimited crafting storage included in that optional sub.
And if the sub runs out you can still use everything from said storage. you just can't put stuff back in there if you don't have an active sub.

Edit: I can't remember from the top of my head right now. But with bagspace upgrades (included in the base game as ingame gold purchases) one can get up to around 200 bag slots, iirc.
That's enough if one only plans to play casually without a sub for a while.

[ZephyrMenodora]

I would personally say that ESO fits in there as well.

1. It receives regular updates.
2. With the mega servers there's never a shortage of people to interact with.
3. The game world is big and immersive. And with the level sync all zones always stays relevant so no zone will turn into a "dead zone" as zones often do when people have out leveled it and moved on.
4. Players can express themselves with the freedom of choice with how any class can play whatever role. No armor/weapon lock to specific classes. Cosmetic/Transmog system. Players can "equip" skins, personalities (and more) that drastically change how their character looks.
5. Game has a store that sells Cosmetics and more. Only thing people might argue is close to P2W is the optional subscription that gives some perks like an infinite crafting material "bag". Edit: ESO does have crates though. Still optional but they contain a bunch of cosmetical options. So that would be a downside.
6. There's plenty of stuff to do. But one most people from FFXIV might find most interesting is that houses aren't limited and can be decorated with great freedom with a huge variety of items.
   Considering how Houses seems to be what keeps a lot of people from leaving FFXIV.

ESO just announced they are no longer doing expansions. Before this announcement they cut new content nearly in half. In 2024 they moved a feature that used to come with expansions to the cash shop instead.

They are no longer to committing to new content at all - they announced nebulous seasons with no commitment to any volume of content or time frames. Their cash shop which puts most new items into RNG loot boxes is one of the worst on the market if you care about cosmetics and housing. They even listed cash shop items in their latest letter as upcoming content. Some people have spent $700 for a mount due to RNG.

[BelegErkhten]

ESO just announced they are no longer doing expansions. Before this announcement they cut new content nearly in half. In 2024 they moved a feature that used to come with expansions to the cash shop instead.

They are no longer to committing to new content at all - they announced nebulous seasons with no commitment to any volume of content or time frames. Their cash shop which puts most new items into RNG loot boxes is one of the worst on the market if you care about cosmetics and housing. They even listed cash shop items in their latest letter as upcoming content. Some people have spent $700 for a mount due to RNG.

This is so sad. Alexa, play Despacito.