Should FF14 take a new route? Discussion

[KaivaC]

Like many of you here in the forums, and the active subscribers out there, I very much enjoy my time in FFXIV. I think that in the crowded MMO market, this one stands out above others because of its approach to combat and story telling. But...it seems that the innovations have sort of stalled - the game feels like its stuck in this limbo that it cannot break away from.

Call it lack of support from Square or call it fear of trying new things, but something just feels like it doesn't click. There was a point where I thought about FFXIV maybe needing a new director - not that Yoshi P. hasn't done a good job with what he has, because he has been great for FFXIV and personally, I'm happy with how he managed to salvage FFXIV and turn it into one of the top MMOs on the market. That being said, I can't help but wonder if a new director would be able to take FFXIV into a new direction. Obviously, if Square is being unsupportive of one of their biggest draws, that's one thing (and we all know what happens when a game company does to a product if they don't support it a la Konami).

So food for thought: Do you think FFXIV would be able to innovate and go to greater heights with a new director? Or is the issue solely Square itself? Or maybe it's something else entirely that FFXIV needs.

Let's discuss.

*edit on April 14
With the new live letter on 4.14.2018, I feel this warrants more consideration now.

[NovaLevossida]

While I have unsubscribed as of today (I looked at Eureka as the last hope for interesting content) and don't have much time remaining before I can no longer post here, I'm not sure it's going to get any better while YoshiP is in charge. He's against interesting stats on gear and doesn't want to deviate from the formula that worked for relaunching the game in 2.0. There was a large amount of vintage MMO content to take inspiration from, and he just repackaged Diadem and took inspiration from leveling camps rather than endgame activities.

I have no plans to resubscribe until 5.0 at the earliest (if I do at all), and I think it's going to take YoshiP stepping away to get anything truly interesting to happen. I'm just not going to pay them anymore for cutting back the amount of content, delivering the same stale content cycle, and repackaging Diadem again. So I think we need someone else. YoshiP gets all the credit in the world for turning FF14 around with ARR. It just never evolved since then.

[Okamimaru]

The only way I see it changing directions is if they decided to completely rewrite the combat system from the ground up...

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

The only way I see it changing directions is if they decided to completely rewrite the combat system from the ground up...

Pretty much this. They would have to remake the game... again... Likely not happening.

[MagiusNecros]

I don't think Eorzea can be saved. It's gonna die a slow painful death of the same shit it's been like since 2.0.

I'd rather play ESO instead. Checking out SW: TOR and Neverwinter and it's taking up my time now.

Combat in XIV is just too slow for my tastes.

[KaivaC]

Admittedly, I only joined at the very tail end of HW, but from what I've heard, literally nothing as far as gameplay and content has changed at all. Everything still seems to revolve around FATEs, the same pattern of raids, and repeat. I will admit, though, if not for the story, I'm not sure I would've stayed myself. Though raiding is my primary motivation at this point in time, I'm still engaged in the story - so there's that.

[Enkidoh]

Okay please, enough with the doomsaying, I've been hearing that "the game is dying" since ARR launched, every single time some new content is added that a section of the community did not like spawns countless claims of "the game can't endure like this!" and "I'm leaving forever!" Really if the doomsayers was to be believed the game should have 'died' ten to twenty times by now. Yet it's still here and still going strong.

Is FFXIV perfect? Of course not. Can it be improved? Of course it can. But to claim that Yoshi isn't listening to player feedback simply because Eureka turned out different to what players had been expecting is simply wrong. It's simply not possible for SE to implement every single 'idea', gameplay concept or change that players ask or request. That is simply being realistic. They have to draw a line somewhere in order to keep the game consistent and balanced.

Even if it means having to say no to player requests. It does not mean SE and Yoshi "does not listen." He does listen, far more than probably any other game developer. And it is clear he takes such negativity very very seriously, that is burdens him greatly when he has to say "no" to players' requests because they are either unworkable or cannot be accommodated in the game's design.

[Skivvy]

If XIV is a cash cow as-is, what incentive does SE have to change things that drastically?

[KDSilver]

I honestly don't feel like I need to write a huge post. My answer is simple : yes.

I agree with mostly everything that has been said recently on forums.
Because I love this game, but if he doesn't surprise me anymore, well...

[JCharms]

If XIV is a cash cow as-is, what incentive does SE have to change things that drastically?

This is as simple and correct as it can get. Continued financial support of the game = supporting the games direction, even if you don't.
Only when all these people vote with their wallets and move on, will they have a serious look at the overall and wider design decisions.