Now that the game is officially on its deathbed, what are your thoughts?

[Jeeqbit]

It's pretty common in MMOs that are still healthy too. WoW had server merges years ago. It's just something that often needs to be done if large portions of the playerbase gravitate towards specific servers and away from others over time.

One could argue that WoW was declining though. I'm sure I don't need to link the fall off that began after WotLK.

And arguably SE is trying to prevent moving to specific servers too much by implementing cross-world features since Heavensward and then routinely adding the Congested status. Since it started happening with Balmung for example before they added that.

[XtremePrime]

Can't disagree with anything said, I'm just sad the game isn't showing signs of improvement

[Kohashi]

User name checks out.. YUP.

Very sad... anyway....

[BigCheez]

One could argue that WoW was declining though. I'm sure I don't need to link the fall off that began after WotLK.

And arguably SE is trying to prevent moving to specific servers too much by implementing cross-world features since Heavensward and then routinely adding the Congested status. Since it started happening with Balmung for example before they added that.

You could argue that there was a decline but the game was (and still is) a behemoth in the industry. To say that WoW was dead in MoP, when they started merging servers, despite still having millions of active subscribers would be a fairly outrageous claim. The game was still ~4x the size of FFXIV at its absolute peak, lol.

[Themarvin]

The MSQ may look like a one-time thing, but it has a tremendous impact on player retention. A good story would have kept the players' interest and would have made them more inclined to engage with the other content on patch releases. If they were unable to capture players during the expansion release, then they would not be able to attract any players on post-MSQ patches.

I have been here almost 8 years and almost logged in everyday and had no sub breaks at all.

No, the absolutely smallest thing about keeping the game alive is the MSQ, it is about having content to do, but I do admit it is a selling point for new players and to an extend to old ones as well, but most of all, you need content to do and not just be neglected onto something half made, barely worth is bs. as they have been very insanely good at.

7.3
1. If the Housing thing is not there, with increased decoration limits and more, then they have more or less blatantly lied about everything, it should be high priority since it has been promised since before 7.0
2. At current rate, you get a new society quest
3. PvP Updates
4. Supposedly a new Deep Dungeon

What we already know would come out, and not really counting as same old same old.
1. Dungeon.
2. Trial.
3. 24 persons Alliance Raid.
4. Unreal Trial.

[Volgia]

I feel like I've heard "This MMO dying" argument before.

[Hanayumi]

Well... FFXIV will continue on, even with minimal population, heck even if SE goes under, there are lots of big companies that would snatch the FF ip instantly. Really it would take another MMO to do some massive damage. Only 1 that comes to mind with a big enough ip in Asia would prolly be Riot's MMORPG, but as far as I know that sucker has been going under redevelopment over and over, so who knows when thatll see the light of day if ever...

[BigCheez]

Well... FFXIV will continue on, even with minimal population, heck even if SE goes under, there are lots of big companies that would snatch the FF ip instantly. Really it would take another MMO to do some massive damage. Only 1 that comes to mind with a big enough ip in Asia would prolly be Riot's MMORPG, but as far as I know that sucker has been going under redevelopment over and over, so who knows when thatll see the light of day if ever...

It's just the ship of Theseus at that point. That sounds less like FFXIV continuing on, and more like a skinwalker inhabiting its corpse.

If SE went under and another company picked up the IP, it wouldn't be because they care about the franchise and want to make good games. It would be because they want to squeeze the last few pennies out of it.

[Masekase_Hurricane]

I think that's All Nonsense.

I agree, every patch is becoming nonsense

[All_Nonsense]

It's just the ship of Theseus at that point. That sounds less like FFXIV continuing on, and more like a skinwalker inhabiting its corpse.

If SE went under and another company picked up the IP, it wouldn't be because they care about the franchise and want to make good games. It would be because they want to squeeze the last few pennies out of it.

FF17 with always-online DRM, a battle pass, and a battle royale mode. Probably coming in 2026 at this rate