FF14 player count reached the lowest point in 4 years. We lost 75% of the playerbase.

[BigCheez]

Sample size can be relatively small (1000 people or less) and still be quite accurate at predicting general trends, or it can be relatively large (over 100k people) and be next to worthless for making predictions. What matters is whether the sample you are looking at is statistically random or not. Unless we can confirm that people playing the game truly choose the method they use in a way that would be considered "random" (and/or that the "profile" of Steam gamers matches the profile of those who use other login methods), then it doesn't matter how "large" the sample is - it's next to worthless.

Are you actually trying to argue that Steam players are more likely to stop playing the game based on the fact that they bought the game on Steam?

[DPZ2]

Are you actually trying to argue that Steam players are more likely to stop playing the game based on the fact that they bought the game on Steam?

I'd suppose the drop to be more because Steam players can only play one game at a time through the Steam interface, and a lot of interesting single-player games came out over the last six months.

[Catwho]

I'd suppose the drop to be more because Steam players can only play one game at a time through the Steam interface, and a lot of interesting single-player games came out over the last six months.

This here is one reason why I'd vouch that the Steam playerbase has a slight demographic difference from the rest of the PC playerbase. I don't play on my PC via Steam and I usually only play one game at a time, period. I am not constantly being tempted by other video games. If I do get a new release, it's going to be on my PS5, and I'll disappear for a few weeks to play it before returning to FFXIV. (I still need to finish out achievements in Rebirth.)

People who play on Steam are likely using that platform because they like a variety of different video games. Not that non-steam players don't like a variety of games, but there's a big reason I never bothered even making a Steam account. I'm not tempted by sales for games I don't intend to play.

[BigCheez]

I'd suppose the drop to be more because Steam players can only play one game at a time through the Steam interface, and a lot of interesting single-player games came out over the last six months.

How does this differ from other platforms?

This here is one reason why I'd vouch that the Steam playerbase has a slight demographic difference from the rest of the PC playerbase. I don't play on my PC via Steam and I usually only play one game at a time, period. I am not constantly being tempted by other video games. If I do get a new release, it's going to be on my PS5, and I'll disappear for a few weeks to play it before returning to FFXIV. (I still need to finish out achievements in Rebirth.)

People who play on Steam are likely using that platform because they like a variety of different video games. Not that non-steam players don't like a variety of games, but there's a big reason I never bothered even making a Steam account. I'm not tempted by sales for games I don't intend to play.

I legitimately don't know anyone who plays FFXIV on PC and doesn't use Steam for other games. The only difference between Steam FFXIV players and SE Store FFXIV players is that the SE Store players prefer to manage their installation for MMOs with their own launchers outside of Steam.

[Catwho]

How does this differ from other platforms?

I legitimately don't know anyone who plays FFXIV on PC and doesn't use Steam for other games.

Congratulations, you now know one person, it's me. I use the PS5 for my other games.

[Clockworks]

Congratulations, you now know one person, it's me. I use the PS5 for my other games.

"You know one person, here I am, it's me !!!"