How long should SE support PS3 client

[Lexia]

A large part of why they never dropped PS2 on FFXI was because of how many players in Japan still played on it. Xbox 360 never really caught on over there and even though hey never bothered with a PS3 client for whatever reason, the original PS3s were backward compatible and as such they could play the PS2 version on the PS3. That isn't as big an issue with FFXIV and PS3 with the player base in general being much more PC heavy along with the free upgrade to PS4 version. Had SE ported FFXI to PS3 instead of Xbox I think you may have seen an end to the PS2 client of FFXI.

Unless person lived in japan support for PS2 version of XI was dropped a year ago if not more cause Seekers of Adoulin was not available for the PS2 if lived outside of Japan.

[Gilraen]

Unless person lived in japan support for PS2 version of XI was dropped a year ago if not more cause Seekers of Adoulin was not available for the PS2 if lived outside of Japan.

I wouldn't mistake lack of availability as meaning 'dropped'. If you still have the PS2 version outside of Japan it still works, you just can't do anything in Adoulin. As for XIV and the PS3, until there's a PS4 in every house of every player Square isn't going to drop support anytime soon, I know I don't have a PS4 and presently there's no games out that make me want to go out and get one. Don't even waste a post telling me about all the games that are out and coming out, I know of them and I know what I'm looking forward to which, at present, don't even have release dates.

[Gesser]

No more than last quarter 2015 I'd say, with the rate of technology & how it already is significantly holding back the game... yeaaah.

[NefarioCall]

The percentage of the subscribing user-base who play on the PS3 platform needs to fall to a level of statistical non-relevance.
Likely 5% or less.

[Kewitt]

As long as it pays to keep updating it.

[ShinkuTachi]

As long as it pays to keep updating it.

^Pretty much this.^

SE will just keep it spec'd down on the PS3 version and continue to put it out. As long as it's lucrative for them to do so, there is no reason for them to stop; and the PC/PS4 counterparts will go largely unaffected by this.

[Dano]

the game will still be playable on the PS3, but future contents will be restricted to PS4 and PC only. It will happen and it might be sooner than later consider that they were giving out free upgrades to PS4 version from PS3.

[Slatervonjager]

the game will still be playable on the PS3, but future contents will be restricted to PS4 and PC only. It will happen and it might be sooner than later consider that they were giving out free upgrades to PS4 version from PS3.

Yeah, no. The PS4 sales aren't even close to half of what the PS3's are. Not the mention the fact that there are still FAR more PS3 players then PS4 players. On top of that, PS3 is still scheduled for support AFTER 3.0, maybe until 4.0.

A free upgrade is NOT incentive to move onto a different platform, nor is it a valid reason for dropping support of a platform. If they were to just drop PS3 support with in the next year, they'd likely lose almost half of the playerbase. Square stated they wont even consider dropping PS3 support until they know the numbers for the PS4 clients are high enough to pick up after dropping the PS3. And who knows when that would occur.

And as for letting PS3 players continue to play outdated content while other play the new stuff is ridiculous. I know it's something they could possibly do, but it wouldn't be lucrative, at all. Why would you pay to play a game that will never get another update on your system. And That won't bolster it's numbers on other option either, because those people still using the PS3 version either A. cannot afford to upgrade to a new platform, or B. Don't want to be forced into upgrading to a new platform to play the same game they already were.

If there is still demand for it, they will leave it as is. No reason to jeopardize a source of revenue if you can't be positive that it won't have a negative effect.

[AiChyan]

Yeah, no. The PS4 sales aren't even close to half of what the PS3's are. Not the mention the fact that there are still FAR more PS3 players then PS4 players. On top of that, PS3 is still scheduled for support AFTER 3.0, maybe until 4.0.

In one of the live letters there was a feature mentioned which will not make it to PS3 actually, will have to look it up to remember what it was and when it will be released.

[rhemi1]

And as for letting PS3 players continue to play outdated content while other play the new stuff is ridiculous.

It's definitely something they can do. If, for example, future content takes place in new zones created for expansions, they can limit access to non-PS3 players only. And it's probably something they will have to do, eventually. The PS3 already struggles in a lot of areas to keep up with the game around it, that's only going to get worse as time goes on. As the PS4 continues to sell, possibly drop in price and become more lucrative, the incentive to continue using a PS3 will decrease.

They'll certainly give a large warning in advance before they do anything, but I can't see PS3 support being a thing after the first expansion. It's already the inferior machine for the game compared to PS4 and PC, and it's only going to get worse.