Thread: Concerns about Content Patch 2.1

This is Producer/Director Yoshida here. We’ve been receiving questions about the release date of patch 2.1 as well as requests to split patches into smaller installments. I’d like to take a moment to inform you about our policy for patches and the current status of patch 2.1.

Patch Operation and Cycle

It’s been three months since the launch of FFXIV: ARR. If you’ve have been focusing on a single job and leveled it all the way to the cap, there’s a chance that you’ve hit a dead end in content. We’ve envisioned a two and a half to three month patch cycle for FFXIV, with patch 2.1 originally scheduled for late November.

However, due to my inadequate planning for the massive congestion that occurred at launch, we’ve had to allocate nearly all of the server team’s resources to adding Worlds and data centers, and improving the stability of instance servers. As a result, we’ve fallen four weeks behind schedule.

The FFXIV team employs a “branch” method of development. Simply put, multiple versions of the game are being developed simultaneously. For example, the development team is currently working along the following development lines:

(1) Patch 2.05 Public Testing (Current)

-> The exact same environment as our players.
-> Bug reports you submit are verified in this environment.

(2) Patch 2.2-2.3/PlayStation4 Version Development (Future)

-> The forefront of development.
-> Includes patch 2.2 elements and PlayStation 4 version data.

(3) Patch 2.1 Testing (Near Future)

-> A separate line that includes elements from 2.1 through to (2).
-> Development of all content and systems for 2.1.
-> Debugging and balance adjustments for 2.1.

There are even more test lines than above, but it would get overly complicated, so I won’t touch on them.

Basically, development work on (1) flows into (2), but in order to ensure that 2.1 is properly tested and balanced prior to release, we’ve created a dedicated branch for it, that being (3).

When a patch release date draws near, we create a master branch for that patch wherein the final touches are made (2.1 has already been branched, by the way). In so doing, we prevent patches from going live with unfinished and unstable elements from future patches.

Work on 2.1 has been in progress since the launch of FFXIV: ARR. However, due to the large-scale measures we’ve had to implement to address issues in (1), the branching of (3) from (2) has been delayed.

Moving forward, we will endeavor to stick to our original plan of one patch every two and a half to three months, and commence a steady patch cycle.

Splitting Patches

In a large-scale game with simultaneous development such as ours, the meticulous management of content and programs is critical. The branch method of development allows us to prevent data from getting jumbled up.

For a single patch, 2.1 features an unprecedented amount of content, most of which will add depth and variety to the game. As such, we judged that it should be released all at once.

While it isn’t impossible to release a patch in installments, i.e. 2.1a, 2.1b, and so on, 2.1 doesn’t lend itself well to this. This is because many of the things being planned either require a long time in development, or affect a broad range of game elements. For example:

• Housing system and related UI
• The Wolves’ Den and related UI
• Large-scale update for the Duty Finder
• Full-fledged Party Finder system

If we were to release 2.1 in installments, the risk of unfinished elements accidentally finding their way in would be increased significantly.

It takes a number of days to cleanly separate a branch, and if you include the time needed for debugging and master testing, we’re looking at 7-12 days to prepare it for release. As a result, the time it takes to deliver all of patch 2.1 would be stretched out another 2-4 weeks. For this reason, we've decided to release everything in one batch—ultimately the shortest route in the long run.

Now, I’m aware of the requests to release minor tweaks first—improving existing functions and adjusting jobs, for instance. However, most of the functions being discussed are closely tied to the server code, and requires more work than it seems. And as for the jobs, time is needed to ensure that they are balanced, as well as test them in the context of new content. If we try to push these tweaks out too early, we risk disappointing our players.

Some of you have also expressed the concern that people will leave the game during this downtime. Naturally, we’ve also taken this risk into consideration, and have been monitoring the forums closely. But ultimately, rather than risk destroying balance by splitting the patch, we’ve decided to stay focused on the mid- and long-term enjoyment of our players. Releasing 2.1 in one batch, we believe, is the best way to do so.

2.1 will usher in sweeping improvements across the board, thus laying a solid foundation for the possibility of patch series in the future. We’ll continue to monitor the situation after patch 2.1 and review our operations policy as we go along.

2.1 is just a few weeks away, and we ask for your patience just a while longer. With countless additions and refinements to battles, crafting, and gathering, not to mention the introduction of PvP, housing, and new soloable content, I promise that it will live up to your expectations.

Thank you for your comment on the subject Yoshida-san. Hontoni Arigatougozaimasu. /bow m(_ _ )m

I hope that this will reassure the FFXIV players and wait anxiously for the next Live Letter (as much as I do). We can't wait to get our hands on the content that 2.1 will give us.

Keep up the good work! (^_^ )/

Always great to hear you break down what's going on in development. The more I know about how this game is being made, the more I appreciate it. And I just learn so much about game development.

Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

2.1 will usher in sweeping improvements across the board, thus laying a solid foundation for the possibility of patch series in the future. We’ll continue to monitor the situation after patch 2.1 and review our operations policy as we go along.

Isn't "...laying a solid foundation for the possiblity of patch series in the future" sort of the point of the launch?

Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

Patch Operation and Cycle

It’s been three months since the launch of FFXIV: ARR. If you’ve have been focusing on a single job and leveled it all the way to the cap, there’s a chance that you’ve hit a dead end in content. We’ve envisioned a two and a half to three month patch cycle for FFXIV, with patch 2.1 originally scheduled for late November.

Semi related and would really like to see some dev response on the subject... Are there any plans to fix the backwards way raids are being released? Releasing lower tier content 2-3 months after higher tier content can't remain a thing.

Originally Posted by Naoki_Yoshida

2.1 is just a few weeks away, and we ask for your patience just a while longer. With countless additions and refinements to battles, crafting, and gathering, not to mention the introduction of PvP, housing, and new soloable content, I promise that it will live up to your expectations.[/INDENT]

More than a couple, less than a lot,

Few is to subjective could you not say late December early January?
Few I normally thing 3-5.

But on that same note. Sitting on a beach I have a few gains of sand in my hand could be 100+ when looking at all the sand on the beach.

Same with few weeks ya I know 3-5 or in SE time 3-10.

Hopefully it all come out in the live letter tomorrow.

First and foremost to all the players who replied to me, I have played alot of the content....I have 5 50's and 3 Classes already with DL and Relic playing as all 3 classes as a rotation except in Coil with my Main job. The second thing is that Yoshi P states that the patch is weeks away...which means it could be 2-3 weeks or if you read other parts of his forum post he states a month away...so its not hard to assume that 2.1 is coming early next year. Lastly, comparing FF14 to Vanilla is really a foolish way to compare....WoW 1.0 was not a complete redo of a game, and even then WoW 1.0 had several dungeons to do for endgame, but FF14 came out in 2010 and it had years to add there to content for endgame then another 2 years to 2.0 development to even make more content. So you are right, comparing WoW 1.0 to FF14 2.0 is a bad compare because even with WoW's 1.0 launch, not its remake...it had way more endgame content to gear up.

"And as for the jobs, time is needed to ensure that they are balanced, as well as test them in the context of new content. If we try to push these tweaks out too early, we risk disappointing our players."


Oh Yoshi.. What you fail to understand that.. if a patch is required to come out (for Warrior for example), those players are already dissapointed. You aren't risking dissapointing them.. they are already dissapointed in the thing that you are attempting to adjust already. Pushing your job tweeks out as it's own thing would do nothing but let people know you are working on the balancing, and not going to require 3 months for a OP/UP ability to get patched.