Switching from servers to channels

[Archaell]

With EU data centre being moved and all, also with PS3 support getting closer to its end, I think it would be good idea to discuss potential of datacentre wide server merges.

The whole game is instanced so it shouldn't be as much of issue to let all the players of one datacentre play together. Some zones might get crowded, but there already were instances in play, so that feature is already implemented in a way. The only issue would be to change the way servers work to lower the loadout - which of course would take time and resources, but I think that we could aim for 4.0 with this change.

We can already queue with players from the same datacentre, so there must be some sort of technology which could be used to split up the world to lower the strain on the servers. Splitting the channels or parts of the world on separate hardware etc.

I think this change could enhance our social experience as we would have easier time creating and keeping relationships inside the data centre.

[worldofneil]

I'm pretty sure they can't easily just merge 10+ servers together (13 in Aether!), zones like Idylshire would likely (figuratively) explode!

They'd also have to add a ton more housing to accommodate all the extra wards for all the servers so the existing housing could merge (and they've previously said that adding more wards is very complicated - no idea why it's complicated, but that's why they haven't given us more so far).

We already play together with everyone in the same data centre when we use duty finder so not really sure how useful it'd actually be for everyone to "physically" be located on the same server. Sure we could use party finder easier, but downsides are we'd have lots more people undercutting on the marketboard... (and who knows what it'd do if you were to merge the economy of 10+ servers!)

Nice idea, but I personally can't see it happening any time soon, if at all. Sorry!

[AsahinaMyLove]

There is no official info about when PS3 support ends <,<

[MentheusDreyar]

There is no official info about when PS3 support ends <,<

Nope but we can speculate I'm personally hoping its at the end of heavensward. By that time the PS4 has been on sale for a long time and will probably be even cheaper, so there's no real excuse to continue to hold back the game when the majority of PS player would probably own one by then.

[Niwashi]

Well, I've heard they're planning on dropping PS2 support for FFXI next year, so maybe in another decade or so they might drop PS3 from this one.

As for the suggestion, I think they could enable some cross-server chat options (but only if they'll take care of the RMT issue first). Then they could open up cross-server parties formed by invitation or Party Finder, but only to meet up in the instanced dungeons which already handle cross-server parties. Open world content should stay server specific.

[odie]

If they merged, I would hope they can figure out how to make it work. Originally they were merged. (At least the NA Datacenters were) and the game had so many issues. They went away after they split them.

[HReincarnate]

Hell no. I remember the mess that they made at the beginning of HW with different instances of the same map - not putting up with that again.

[Craiger]

You crazy?

I don't know how populated your server is, but on mine, it's really fricking crowded (except now with everyone waiting for 3.1). S rank hunts created crazy lag to the area it was in, and only way they could make that happen, would be to add instances to areas again. Only this time it would have to be like 20 instances...

In fact, the whole game would have to be split into a ton of instances, otherwise it would all crash. If you're splitting everyone up like that, why not just keep separate servers? Since it's going to be a hell trying to meet up with the people you know and want to play with...

It would be a nightmare.

Also, it doesn't matter how many instances they add to the areas, if a lot of players wants to get together in one and same place (like hunts), only a fraction of the server would be able to get there... Cause the instances can't be bigger than they are now, it's just the amount of instances that would increase to crazy levels. Prepare to spammed with "A rank in Hinterlands - instance 20", "A rank in Hinterlands - instance 17" etc etc for all areas and instances.

[Colorful]

As an English user playing on Tonberry, no thanks.

[KingOfAbyss]

Nope but we can speculate I'm personally hoping its at the end of heavensward. By that time the PS4 has been on sale for a long time and will probably be even cheaper, so there's no real excuse to continue to hold back the game when the majority of PS player would probably own one by then.

By that time the PS5 will be up!