Patch 8.0 - How long is too long to wait?

[Hyperia]

I think a big factor in why ARR felt more alive were the extra dungeons and lore bits from the job quests, none of which exist anymore.
Job quests should make a comeback imo (preferably on top of the 5 role quests), and extra dungeons that build on the lore of the regions and world in general would be amazing as well. They could even go back and make them for the First or The World Unsundered to entice people to go back to those regions to keep the older content more relevant and those regions more alive...
Maybe add more side quests in general.

But I'm suggesting all this from a player perspective.
The main issue is resources.
SE has had a few rather bad years and XIV is financially flagshipping the entire company at this point, so a lot of the money it generates that should be re-invested in the game goes into other divisions, and it shows, I'm afraid.

The ARR zones were smaller and content was much more dense. Because of this, you saw more players and flying wasn’t needed when you only needed two minutes to run across and entire zone.

I would really prefer smaller zones that felt more alive an had more of them instead of 5 massive zones that are devoid of life. 10 smaller but more active zones sounds much more interesting.

We could get 5 to 6 new zones in the expansion and then each patch would add a new one instead of using dungeons or just standing around talking.

[KiraRavens]

The ARR zones were smaller and content was much more dense. Because of this, you saw more players and flying wasn’t needed when you only needed two minutes to run across and entire zone.

I would really prefer smaller zones that felt more alive an had more of them instead of 5 massive zones that are devoid of life. 10 smaller but more active zones sounds much more interesting.

We could get 5 to 6 new zones in the expansion and then each patch would add a new one instead of using dungeons or just standing around talking.

You're not wrong, but it comes down to the resources in this too...

Designing a new zone is much more work than designing a dungeon, and they've honestly not even put that much effort into those this time around as most of them just had the S9 look instead of feeling unique and exciting.

[Yodada]

God seeing how much of 7.5 is already a disappointment after LL it is really looking grim for 8.0

[Daralii]

Unless they accelerate compared to EW -> DT, 8.0 will release in the second half of January. Truly remarkable if that's the case.

[Dan4077]

Amount of people complaining in this thread about lack of content, who don't even interact with some of the main content of the game. No wonder SE doesn't listen when there is all these "no content" moaners, who don't even play the main content of the game.

It is not our job as players to find content in your game. It is square enixs job to keep us engaged and get us to engage in the content they create. The variant for instance has no good carrot to chase. So why do it? What obligation do i have to make something of their content? You either create something we want or keep losing players.

[Zelda206]

If they're taking as long as 2027 to implement the 'big' change that will 'save' the game, then it's a small wonder why other MMORPGs are absolutely jumping on the crazy train pulling customers away in waves.
Players are running back to FFXI for a better experience than the modern FFXIV, they're running back to MMOs that at least have more content despite having subscription (or running to MMOs that have no sub but are loaded with MTX simply because there's more to do there that doesn't immediately feel like a waste of time). "Take a break" has turned into "take a hike" as far as the general consensus is concerned; Square thinks it's playing a smart game but the information its formulated approach has taken is no longer a measure that can be afforded to take; if they invested more intelligently, their approach would revert to faster patches/updates/better morale. It hasn't.

Furthemore: if resources are really that bleak (as hinted to by Yoshida), then Square's doing a horrendous job selling to EVERYONE (investors, shareholders, and the general public) while cracking down on criticism (by which, in their standards and home turf, could be as simple as critiquing the writing style as being 'below average' and still taking offense and being taken as an 'attack towards the staff'. And I'm not even dipping a toe into the giant elephant Dawntrail had as a narrative and with its key characters) and spreading general dissatisfaction across the board. If you want to COMPETE, which Square SHOULD be doing, you have to pump MORE resources and MORE content to get MORE players to stay. For many, the houses aren't worth it and you can easily get it all back again if it's worthwhile. Otherwise they're doing people a favor by running them off (which is essentially what they're doing). "Please look forward to it."

[LanceSummers]

The ARR zones were smaller and content was much more dense. Because of this, you saw more players and flying wasn’t needed when you only needed two minutes to run across and entire zone.

I would really prefer smaller zones that felt more alive an had more of them instead of 5 massive zones that are devoid of life. 10 smaller but more active zones sounds much more interesting.

We could get 5 to 6 new zones in the expansion and then each patch would add a new one instead of using dungeons or just standing around talking.

I wouldn't mind the size if it felt like it had a purpose.
Currently there is very little to do in the open world, this needs to change ASAP. Give us more things to do. New types of content would be very much welcome.

[Garruss]

I honestly think we are not getting 8.0 till March 2027 onwards looking at the release image for 7.5, we all knew it was going to be a hard year for this game.