Is the community wrong?

[Nixxe]

Does WoW even make the distinction between the two? I remember there being some grumbling when they made their big "11 million subs" announcement that they were counting all subs whether they were active or not.

Yes, because the numbers were reported for the sake of investors, not players, up until they chose to discontinue reporting that metric in favor of ones they felt were more meaningful given how the game has changed. Per Blizzard's last self-report, over 100,000,000 World of Warcraft accounts have been created since the game originally launched. The active subscriber count peaked at 13 million in Wrath of the Lich King, fell to about 5.5 million as of the last official report, and is in all likelihood hovering around the 4-5 million mark now.

Granted, the number means something a little different than it does in FFXIV, as there are hard barriers between accounts in different regions. In FFXIV, you can play with the Japanese players or the European players from North America, though it may require selecting certain language options. In WoW, that number is divided between several service regions that are mutually exclusive with one another for the most part. There are some exceptions, such as OC and LA being grouped with NA, but NA can't play with EU can't play with CN.

[NekiUno]

First of all, in MMORPGs you will always find a person or two, maybe more complaining about a place/boss/content most of the time on the forums (heck, my first MMORPG is Ragnarok Online and those forums was insane) but they are legit in voicing their opinions but it is up to each player to have their own opinion about this.

This game has issues and certain things that might make it better but for a MMORPG that was on death's door almost 6 years ago to be the number 2 in MMORPG behind WoW in sales and still getting money from subs, I have no issues at all. I know I cant sub all of the time since I got family and work but I am always want to return to check out and hang out. I am pushing four years since I went to WoW.

[JackHatchet]

I haven't played FFXIV in about 2 months, but I stay subbed to keep my house. I have cancelled all my retainers though.

[Vaer]

The "highest subs ever" thing was like a year ago. The WoW GD forums is the same thing though. Similar sort of complaints, too.

MMO forums are like the weather channel, it could be sunny out everywhere but the world is ending.

[SenorPatty]

I question how many people stay subscribed so they don't lose their houses, honestly. Cause that's the point I'm at. I'd unsub until the game got better, but by that point, I'd lose my house, so I keep an active sub, and check in on my house just so it doesn't get demoed. Which makes me salty in the first place, since my server has more than enough houses we didn't need the stupid Demo option that the larger servers whined about needing.

I must ask, not just to you but also any other who stay subbed for the house.

Do you actually enjoy the house? Like, truly and genuinely enjoy it? Because the statement almost makes it sound like its the final anchor between you and the game and I just get the impression that you're shelling out a monthly fee just to make sure it stays there.

Or is it one of those hopeful wishes that SE does something miraculous like cancel all demo timers so you can finally breathe easy and stay unsubbed as long as you want?

Genuine curiosity here.

[ElazulHP]

People that are happy with the game are playing it or happy enough to not visit the forums. People that are upset, but care about the game just enough to not quit yet, will vent on the forums... and then get attacked by the white knights rushing to SE's defense. People that get angry enough to unsub generally won't bother to post. They'll just quit silently since they no longer care enough to bother. So what you're seeing is people who still care venting frustrations.

[Nihility]

this game just has an extraordinarily whiny user base for whatever reason.

Like the phone app, it's not great or anything but it's free and you get an extra favored destination just for having it and if you want to pay for some bonuses to your retainers you can.

If you listened to these forums you'd think the app was some sort of world crushing event that will bring an end to all gaming
when in reality it's pretty much totally neutral to kind of cool depending on your outlook. Doesn't really affect much of anything

there were even people crying bloody murder over the little summer event we get every year. It's just a fun little obstacle course and a pretty nice free swimsuit and some fireworks and a couple furnishings. There's pretty much nothing about it that isn't positive or just neutral

[Corue]

when in reality it's pretty much totally neutral to kind of cool depending on your outlook.

Are you really going to claim that an app that locks a much requested QoL feature behind a subscription cost on top of microtransactions as "neutral to kind of cool "?

Never mind how incredibly limited it is and how unstable the servers are.

inb4 "it's optional"

[Nixxe]

this game just has an extraordinarily whiny user base for whatever reason.

Like the phone app, it's not great or anything but it's free and you get an extra favored destination just for having it and if you want to pay for some bonuses to your retainers you can.

If you listened to these forums you'd think the app was some sort of world crushing event that will bring an end to all gaming
when in reality it's pretty much totally neutral to kind of cool depending on your outlook. Doesn't really affect much of anything

there were even people crying bloody murder over the little summer event we get every year. It's just a fun little obstacle course and a pretty nice free swimsuit and some fireworks and a couple furnishings. There's pretty much nothing about it that isn't positive or just neutral

A free favored destination for installing the free version is nice and I didn't know about that until your post, but it really has nothing to do with whether or not the app is any good and whether or not we as players should find the premium version acceptable.

[MistakeNot]

I've taken a break from FFXIV to enjoy Warcraft, but I still enjoyed FFXIV when I played, and like to check in with the community from time to time.

I remember reading reports that FFXIV's sub numbers are the highest they've ever been, and that the game is massively successful. Yet when I try to see how everyone is doing--it's all complaints about Eureka or the companion app, or something else.

I guess I'm confused as to why the sub numbers would be at an all time high if people were actively unhappy with the state of the game and its direction.

People on forums are always complaining about something. Most people who like the game will never say anything at all.
Hence reading the forums (for nearly any game at any time) will give a very slanted view of "the community" since most players aren't there.