Graphical Quality, Shading and Antialiasing Request

[lolicon09]

To be honest "a perfect storm" is coming for FF14. The current plot is almost done (could lead to some player feeling "done" with FFXIV) and Blue Protocol is shaping to be real competition for FFXIV (PvE focus, story driving, aesthetic, share many similarities with FFXIV, etc). I know Blue Protocol will be F2P and FF14 is very "play something else" friendly but you never know.

Then, Shadowland is shaping to be a good expansion so I'm guessing a good chunk of "WoW refugees" will be going back there. Also, will be outright sad that WoW end with better character customization than FFXIV (I still think FFXIV chars are more charming).

I really hope SE uses all of this to modernize a little bit FFXIV with better lighting, textures and more detailed models/environment.

Being F2P is the main reason i have very low expectations for Blue Protocol. It looks good, very good indeed, but almost any game with that models s*cks balls and/or doesn't last long (especially in the west). Honestly, Shadowlands is what actually looks like proper competition right now (for better or worse). Hell, I have always hated how characters look in WoW but the upcoming changes in customization look very very promising

[Driavna]

Being F2P is the main reason i have very low expectations for Blue Protocol. It looks good, very good indeed, but almost any game with that models s*cks balls and/or doesn't last long (especially in the west). Honestly, Shadowlands is what actually looks like proper competition right now (for better or worse). Hell, I have always hated how characters look in WoW but the upcoming changes in customization look very very promising

I will say than WoW and FFXIV target very different demographics (even if some overlap happens). And about what F2P model BP will use, seems to be the same as PSO2. Is a game from Japan and not Korea, so probably will stay that way? At the end of the day "I don't really care" (I enjoy being informed about MMO's in general, that's all), I just want improvements for FF14.

[Theodric]

To be honest "a perfect storm" is coming for FF14. The current plot is almost done (could lead to some player feeling "done" with FFXIV) and Blue Protocol is shaping to be real competition for FFXIV (PvE focus, story driving, aesthetic, share many similarities with FFXIV, etc). I know Blue Protocol will be F2P and FF14 is very "play something else" friendly but you never know.

Then, Shadowland is shaping to be a good expansion so I'm guessing a good chunk of "WoW refugees" will be going back there. Also, will be outright sad that WoW end with better character customization than FFXIV (I still think FFXIV chars are more charming).

I really hope SE uses all of this to modernize a little bit FFXIV with better lighting, textures and more detailed models/environment.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I enjoy FFXIV, though I'm getting a tad weary of the limitations it is held back by. I'd love to see more focus on improving both the graphical elements of the game and also the character customisation - particularly where male characters are concerned.

Competition is also healthy for the game, so I'm also hoping that WoW's next expansion does very well for itself. ESO is a strong competitor as well - it's not my cup of tea in terms of how the characters look but the open world, exploration and theft/assassination systems add a lot of depth and choice that FFXIV is sadly lacking.

I've got my eye on Blue Protocol for the reasons you outlined. I think the art style will hold up pretty well and it captures the 'classic JRPG' aesthetics rather nicely. It remains to be seen if it'll be a hit or a miss, though FFXIV is desperately in need of some healthy competition.

I'm a bit wary of it being F2P but it's not as if it's impossible to implement micro-transactions in a way that is balanced and fair.