Why is AFKing so popular in FFXIV?

[Gula]

I don't know what to tell you then because it's just a thing nowhere exclusive to XIV.

[Skivvy]

I've worked from home for years, and so back when I actually had friends in-game, they'd randomly stop by to hang out or chat throughout the day which was nice. Now that I'm solo-mode, it's just easier for me to stay logged in so I don't have to bother with the login process. Not that it takes a long time, but it's just one less thing to do. :P

But with that said, I don't necessarily stay in all day and night, but I will be afk for a few hours here and there. Random things tend to pop up that I want to check in-game as well every so often, so it's nice already being in game and ready to go.

[SamSmoot]

One reason may be the long time it takes to log back in if you leave.
Here's a little comparison, with phone app authhenticator:

FFXIV: 64 seconds (phone out and unlocked) Had to enter both password and auth code.

WoW: 34 seconds (Did not have to enter password or auth code, which is only needed when IP address changes)

[Seraphor]

The nature of this game being heavily instance based leads to people gravitating to certain 'hubs' in between instance content.
This leads to people socialising in these hubs while they're waiting, and developing communities.
When you end up feeling included in these communities, and enjoying the social aspect in your downtime, then there's an incentive to not just shut the game off when you're not in an active duty.

[Kleeya]

The main reason why you can sometimes see me standing still in the same spot a long time is that i am not gonna disconnect each time i want to alt-tab to look a while at something on the internet, before going back to the game. Like right now when i am checking the forums and your topic XD

[Quintessa]

It's not exclusive to this game.

[LalafellDown]

Players go AFK because it sexy time with their spouses.

[ItMe]

Again, these people aren't hurting anyone, etc., and I'm not here to excoriate them. But, rather, I just want to know: why? Why don't you just turn the game off?

Those Warriors of Light are either:
- Staring into the eyes of the Lakshmi minion to see if her hypnotic powers can give them a buzz.
- Never finished Shadow Bringers and are desperately engaged in an inner struggle to keep the light inside at bay.
- Waiting for the time/weather to spawn a sight seeing spot and just in a very incorrect location.
- They pissed off some of the rich Lala in Ul Dah. They now have assassins after them and are standing stock still, trying to blend in, forgetting they didn't switch to Ninja.
- Working on their tan.

[Hazama999]

Ah yes, the FFXIV AFK community.

[Valic]

I'm AFK right now posting to this thread.... o-o