So, even Wildstar is going f2p...

[Akuryu]

I swear XIV and XI are part of the reason why Square-Enix continues to make Single Player Final Fantasys. (as well as keeping these games going - which is the bigger reason)[I bet if it weren't for the MMO's Final Fantasy would have ended at X/X-2. Though I bet it keeps the whole department alive.]

Nah. FFXII, sold nearly 6 million copies. XIII sold over 7 million copies. I have no doubt XV will be a huge hit too. Final Fantasy as a brand doesn't need mmos to survive.

If you're talking SE as a whole, their mobile game division makes more money than the MMOs.

[Alberel]

Nah. FFXII, sold nearly 6 million copies. XIII sold over 7 million copies. I have no doubt XV will be a huge hit too. Final Fantasy as a brand doesn't need mmos to survive.

If you're talking SE as a whole, their mobile game division makes more money than the MMOs.

I link you to this article: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/25/f...the-franchise/

FFXI has been the most profitable game in SE's entire catalogue for some time. FFXIV won't be far behind if its subscription numbers remain stable or continue to rise as they currently appear to be doing.

I think you underestimate just how much money subscriptions and expansion purchases can bring in.

[Edellis]

I agree with this...I swear XIV and XI are part of the reason why Square-Enix continues to make Single Player Final Fantasys. (as well as keeping these games going - which is the bigger reason)[I bet if it weren't for the MMO's Final Fantasy would have ended at X/X-2. Though I bet it keeps the whole department alive.]

Nobody knows why X-2 was a thing. Probably because after the merger, Square Enix just went direct sequel insane, something i remember hating early in their lifetime.

XI is still a thing today. So yeah, probably alot of money. aloooottt of money. It's still having crap developed for it. Mind you, it looks like PS2 era game. There's no way this game isn't as profitable as golden nipples.

XII seems to be somewhat a mixed bag between fans, but critical review sites praised that game's balls off. It sold very well and was received well. Also looked amazing.

XIII doesn't seem to have that ambiguity, everyone hated it, but it sold well because 1) FINAL FANTASY 2) ON NEXTGEN?! and 3) multiplatform.

XIII-2 and XIII-3 all sold worse than the one before it. Probably because after XIII-2 everyone finally realized there was no reason to hold out hope anymore. But they didn't seem to spend much money on those crapshoots anyway.

XIV was probably a masssssssssive waste of money. The game probably cost a fortune to make, but it played like garbage. Everyone hated it AND it sold like trash. This is probably the first true screwup. Wouldn't be surprised if XI's profits were 100% responsible for ARR's overhaul lol

XIII Versus / XV and the Luminous Engine is probably the most expensive and expansive waste of money in the gaming industry i've seen thus far. The engineer of the engine jumped ship and the game has been in development about as long as the PS3 is old. There's no telling if this game could ever possibly break even. Funny thing is though, it's looking like it may just be pretty godlike and revolutionary for the franchise.

XIVARR is most likely the thing that's been keeping their shoulders dry thus far. It's the only game since XII Square has developed that people buy and actually don't trash talk. ARR seems to be almost single-handedly responsible for renewing faith in the company, since it's the only FF game in recent memory that people don't vehemently hate.

[Rhas]

The thing is, the producers of these MMOs that went f2p said the same thing. Look at Rift. They said, "we will never go f2p" and 6 months later, went back on it. Plans change over years. I am just hoping that this plan will never change for FF14.

There is a *big* difference. Those other games that went F2P actually have investors that invested money directly into their MMO. What that means is they actually have a say in whether or not the MMO can get turned into a F2P model because they want to get their investment money back out of it.

SE is *not* in the same position as they completely own the content. They may have investors that invest into SE as a company in general, but they are not investing in FFXIV directly, therefore when Yoshida says they aren't going to go F2P, it has a lot more value than say... Trion... or Bethesda or whoever.

The only other comparable company that *used* to be the same way was Blizzard with WoW, though this is no longer the case. FFXIV is in kinda of a unique position and unless SE directly demands it, which I personally don't see happening, it probably will not happen.

[Higashikata]

Wildstar was stillborn.

It was born dead and then they tried to put it on life support.

[Rhas]

Trying to compare FFXIV's content patches to the pitiful additions GW2 gets is laughable. Until last year the only persistent new content GW2 had received was the Fractals dungeon (which was actually just delayed content that didn't make launch) and the karka island that has no content at all on it and no one ever bothers to visit... It took them three years to announce an expansion pack with the seasonal story leading into that expansion being the first new content the game had received in well over a year.

GW2's content patches typically amount to nothing more than a redesign of a previous system. In fact ArenaNet has now redesigned the traits system twice! Not only do they not have the money to fund proper content development but they waste what little they have on revamping old systems instead of making desperately needed new ones.

When you pay a subscription you typically get much higher quality content with a much faster release cycle. If anything comparing FFXIV to GW2 proves this point to be true so trying to use GW2 as an argument to disprove it is actually hilarious.

Did you know that their new "paid" expansion will also *not* increase the level cap or add in any new tiers of weapons. You are basically paying for nothing but a new (race?) or was it just a new job... and paying for them to change their "end game" characters to do what most other MMO have done for free (like the system in FFXI) but forget what its called.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-cap-gear-tier

I *used* to be one of their (what they called) Core testers. I saw and tested and played all the content before it was actually released for GW2. I about died from shock when they totally revamped the *Core* area with a new map instead of actually doing something other than seasonal content and temporary story for the players which was removed weeks after it started...... The content I helped test was pretty pitiful. I eventually just stopped playing it because it became such a big joke. Yeah I was there for the "Karka Island" *rolls eyes* I helped test that wonderful waste of... well... enough of that lol.


I am really SOO glad I dumped GW2 like a bad habit ;P FFXIV Forever! ;D

[Felis]

XIV 1.0 more accurately went B2P, not F2P. You didn't have a sub fee, but you still did have to purchase a copy of the game to play.

It was more a "we can't expect people to pay for this" situation. So they just didn't start with the payment until they increased the quality enough after 15 months

[Firesped]

The real reason Wildstar is going Free to Play is two fold, first off, the population is struggling. they really need more people playing it. The second reason is probably because the investment capital has been payed off for the game development. They are not likely to say that directly tho. There is always a price paid for the game going free to play. New content will be based on how much money is earned.

[Chewy2nd]

I love XIV being a sub game, it means we get high quality content on a regular schedule, its well worth the cost.

[Solaria_Luna]

Nah. FFXII, sold nearly 6 million copies. XIII sold over 7 million copies. I have no doubt XV will be a huge hit too. Final Fantasy as a brand doesn't need mmos to survive.

If you're talking SE as a whole, their mobile game division makes more money than the MMOs.

How many copies did FFXIII sell in the west alone? (...and only the first one because it seems there are so many people hating on it, though I'm not sure if that's the LOUD minority [I made loud in caps for emphasis])

Yea I know about the mobile part. (The most obvious FF mobile title for me is Final Fantasy Record Keeper)

I love XIV being a sub game, it means we get high quality content on a regular schedule, its well worth the cost.

Same, better than playing one of those f2p Chinese made browser games where you have to pay to get anything worthwhile from events. (mounts and minions [pets] comes to mind)