The state of the Game

[Astronema]

a visual aid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9cL458Qns

[Khryseis_Astra]

I absolutely disagree. I do not want to prepare for a fight by memorizing 32 different boss spells and the exact meaning where to run when the boss casts spell 18. This is a game, not a Latin school exam. I'm all for challenging fights, but decyphering crude boss emotes in real time is not challenging - it's annoying. That's why I don't bother with anything in this game beyond the MSQ.

Same. I do Extremes, and I’d say that’s about the height of what my brain can process. lol I’ve enjoyed blind progs of Savage, but like you say all the study and prep work and having to perform absolutely perfectly just isn’t what I consider fun, so I do most Savages unsynced well after they’re current. I much prefer things where it’s a little challenging, but you can usually learn it quickly enough to get through in an evening.

[AzhreiVahlok]

totally agree with Gwen's quote.... prolly why i normally don't even BOTHER with anything harder than savages and most of the time (I'm behind on msq anyway) other FC people and maybe some randoms unsync it anyway.

Also i don't study and do prep work for a dang game.... I die i just ask what happened (cause 99% of the time i didn't see wth happened rofl). People tend to explain, you learn what to look out for, you learn it (There HAVE been a few times i'd watch a vid by MSQCapture on youtube REALLY fast in the middle of a run when we all wipe lol)... but ya it's annoying the random indicators you've NEVER SEEN BEFORE or some crap and u don't know what the boss just did sometimes... lol

[savarna]

One thing I absolutely hate, and this might just be me playing old-school MMOs versus modern ones, is how quickly gear gets phased out in this game. It doesn’t hold any meaningful value beyond just glamours. You know how it is in Souls games, or even going back to FFXI? The effort and hours you put in gave you a real sense of fulfillment and pride because you were wearing a piece of armor with stats that could easily carry you through future content. In FFXI, there were armor pieces at level 30 that could still be best-in-slot when you hit level 75. How you got that gear wasn’t something everyone was willing to do because it was hard, but dang it, you were the celebrity and star of the show (Ultimates are a far cry from that at best).

Now it’s like, “Oh yeah, I do savage content,” but in a very short spawn of patches, that gear will be completely useless and replaced by low level tier crafted or dropped armor sets from regular dungeons. How is everyone okay with this? And if you didn’t like the glamour that much, it’s just forgotten, with no sentiment or nostalgia attached. In my opinion, that’s something that really needs to change. I hate how this content is dictated by these super predictable cycles that make the game so boring.

Where’s the excitement, the joy of seeing developers think outside the box and finally step out of their comfort zone? Sadly, we’re partly to blame because we’ve accommodated their lazy development habits. While it’s not terrible, it’s so repetitive that there’s no thrill even in watching live letters anymore, because you anticipate what’s coming next and end up just looking at screenshots posted on Reddit. Our brains have become so rewashed by their patterns that it’s reached a point where development mistakes are very evident. When it’s blatantly obvious they’re cutting corners, it really shows.

Anyway, I don’t expect everyone to understand, but my hope is that this game changes. I love this game, and because I do, I criticize it so it can get better, and the developers will take action. This is not charity, we are paying for a service, and we deserve better.

[AzhreiVahlok]

One thing I absolutely hate, and this might just be me playing old-school MMOs versus modern ones, is how quickly gear gets phased out in this game. It doesn’t hold any meaningful value beyond just glamours. You know how it is in Souls games, or even going back to FFXI? The effort and hours you put in gave you a real sense of fulfillment and pride because you were wearing a piece of armor with stats that could easily carry you through future content. In FFXI, there were armor pieces at level 30 that could still be best-in-slot when you hit level 75. How you got that gear wasn’t something everyone was willing to do because it was hard, but dang it, you were the celebrity and star of the show (Ultimates are a far cry from that at best).

Now it’s like, “Oh yeah, I do savage content,” but in a very short spawn of patches, that gear will be completely useless and replaced by low level tier crafted or dropped armor sets from regular dungeons. How is everyone okay with this? And if you didn’t like the glamour that much, it’s just forgotten, with no sentiment or nostalgia attached. In my opinion, that’s something that really needs to change. I hate how this content is dictated by these super predictable cycles that make the game so boring.

Where’s the excitement, the joy of seeing developers think outside the box and finally step out of their comfort zone? Sadly, we’re partly to blame because we’ve accommodated their lazy development habits. While it’s not terrible, it’s so repetitive that there’s no thrill even in watching live letters anymore, because you anticipate what’s coming next and end up just looking at screenshots posted on Reddit. Our brains have become so rewashed by their patterns that it’s reached a point where development mistakes are very evident. When it’s blatantly obvious they’re cutting corners, it really shows.

Anyway, I don’t expect everyone to understand, but my hope is that this game changes. I love this game, and because I do, I criticize it so it can get better, and the developers will take action. This is not charity, we are paying for a service, and we deserve better.

Idk i get to a new expansion (or the next ten lvls) i just get the poetic gear for the base..... I'm taking a break from the game pretty much until i knock out my ps4 backlog, but i'm AT just starting Post EW. Once you hit 50 all you need is poetic gear for the base (add more stats with materia if u want) then just keep using the glam you like. I've never been locked outta doing content. I haven't tried any ultimates but i do savages, sometimes synced but usualy unsynced.

[Pip_Chick]

Put it in Chat GPT and tell it to read it for you.

[Zakuyia]

I dont think its annoying to see this topic if your passionate about the game wanna see it get better ofvourse. What I'm struggling with understanding is how this pkayer base is deemed as a wholesome community.....when its not.

Ppl would rather see the game fail, report ppl for trying get the game back on track, get annoyed at post....if you dont like it dont comment on said post, and finally gaving a dev team who are literally tone death when it comes to the state of game.....im struggling to understand why you would destroy your cash cow for few clowns who dont care about this game.

[znushu]

So I figured I'd ask Gemini to summarize the OP just to make it easier to get through and this was her response...

This is a detailed critique of Final Fantasy XIV from a veteran player who feels the game is in decline. The author argues that the quantity and quality of content have decreased over the years, while long-standing issues remain unaddressed.

Here's a summary of the main points:

Content and Design

• Less Content, Slower Pace:
  The author compares an old patch (2.2) to a hypothetical future one (7.2), concluding that the game used to deliver significantly more content in a shorter amount of time.
• Formulaic Dungeons:
  Modern dungeons are criticized for being boring, linear corridors with a predictable "wall-to-wall pull" structure, unlike older dungeons that had more variety, puzzles, and branching paths.
• Empty Overworlds:
  The world maps feel lifeless and empty after the main story is complete and flying is unlocked. The author suggests mixing in smaller, no-fly zones to encourage exploration.

Systemic and Technical Issues

• Poor New Player Experience:
  The game is not fun for new players due to extremely slow and boring ability progression at low levels and confusing systems for unlocking basic features.
• Abandoned Systems:
  Many features like Free Companies, Grand Companies, housing, Chocobo Companions, and in-game marriage have been neglected for years and feel outdated or irrelevant.
• Technical Debt:
  The author is tired of the "spaghetti code" excuse for the game's technical problems, such as clunky inventory and glamour systems, a slow market board, and poor netcode. The upcoming FF14 Mobile version is frequently cited as proof that these issues can be fixed.

Narrative and Community

• Storytelling Flaws:
  The Dawntrail expansion's story is criticized for its poor pacing, predictable plot, and making the player character a passive observer. The narrative is accused of over-explaining everything, leaving no room for discovery.
• Difficulty and Communication:
  The author notes a sharp divide between casual and hardcore players, with no smooth difficulty curve to help players improve. They also call for better communication and a clearer roadmap from the developers to address community fears about the game's future.

Ultimately, the author expresses a deep love for the game and a desire for it to succeed. The piece is a passionate plea for the developers and Square Enix to take risks, overhaul outdated systems, and listen to player feedback to prevent the game's potential from being wasted.

[Shinku_Tachi]

Yes. "The content is boring" is not the same argument as "there is no content."

This right here!

From 2.xx to 7.xx I've watched the "content" get less and less over the years with each patch cycle series.
Back when it became apparently obvious that we were paying the same money for exceedingly less and less content, while more and more would foisted onto the cash shop, and people started calling it out. Folks would explain it away, saying, "sure, we're getting less content but it's sooooooo much more higher quality now," or people would just pull the mask off, saying some variance of "stop being so entitled" or "play something else if you're not enjoying 14"

But now... not only are they delivering less, they're making the players wait longer for less.

We did not realize how good we had it in the ARR & HW days man, lol. (It's sad, honestly)

[CidHeiral]

This right here!

From 2.xx to 7.xx I've watched the "content" get less and less over the years with each patch cycle series.

I think you misread my post. I don't agree with that at all.