Shadowbringers starting to feel like a budget expansion

[grinkdaboy]

from how little content we've gotten this expansion compared to previous ones is making me wonder why xiv is so underfunded. so let's have a quick review shall we

Au Ra could wear headgear at launch
Au Ra could wear all hairstyles at launch
Au Ra had both genders
SAM and RDM still got level 60 primal and tome weapons despite being outdated content, and everything from level 50.
They got: Bismarck, Ravana, Thordan, Sephirot, Sophia, Nidhogg, Zurvan, All tome weapons (Hellfire and Shire), All three Alexander raid tiers. On top of all the base primals like Shiva and Ifrit, etc.
SAM and RDM both had PVP weapon models right away.
SAM and RDM continued to have new models added through 60+ content
Stormblood had new PVP content and glamours shipped out the gate.
Stormblood launched with a complete PVP overhaul (not a good thing though)
3 dungeons per patch in HW
2 dungeons per patch in SB
Relics that took longer than an hour to get
Savages had unique and innovative mechanics
2 Ultimates
Deep dungeons

but in Shadowbringers...
Viera cannot wear most headgear
Viera cannot use all hairstyles
Viera are gender locked
Hrothgar cannot wear most headgear
Hrothgar have 4 hairstyles and cannot change that at the aesthetician
Hrothgar are gender locked
GNB and DNC have had two starting weapon models made for them (Shire and the steel one you start with)
GNB and DNC got nothing else in the level 60 range.
GNB and DNC got none of the level 70 weapons beyond Scaevan, Ryumakyu and Omega, not a single primal at launch.
No: Susano, Shinryu, Byakko, Tsukuyomi, Suzaku, Seiryu, UCoB or UWU, A SINGLE omega raid tier, and only 2 tome weapons. Not even the basic primal weapons from ARR that everybody has at launch.
GNB and DNC have about 20 total unique weapon models, the rest being reskins. Yes even the new ultimate alex weapons are just reskinned Shire and Forgiven weapons.
Shadowbringers PVP glams almost didn't happen but yoshida needed somewhere to put the contest design winner from Stormblood.
1 dungeon per patch
No crafted SB primal weapons at launch
1 ultimate
No deep dungeon
Savage fights designed by B-team

[Theodric]

I'm just hoping that the development team are secretly working on some big surprises behind the scenes and that is the reason why some things feel a tad rushed/incomplete. The lack of a direct rival MMO also doesn't help matters much, I suppose.

[SpeckledBurd]

I'm just hoping that the development team are secretly working on some big surprises behind the scenes and that is the reason why some things feel a tad rushed/incomplete. The lack of a direct rival MMO also doesn't help matters much, I suppose.

I think it's known what they're working on behind the scenes, it's the redo of 2.0 content. There's also evidence to suggest they're redoing some of those zones to an extent to allow flight.

[Iscah]

I think it's known what they're working on behind the scenes, it's the redo of 2.0 content. There's also evidence to suggest they're redoing some of those zones to an extent to allow flight.

I know people have latched onto the hope of this (I think because they altered the zone boundaries to match "flying zones" in the expansions?) but it might not be that. I think a while ago they mentioned adding Z-axis tracking for old zones, which might require the same changes.

They could be working on it, but don't pin your hopes on it until they announce it for certain.

[RyuDragnier]

I know people have latched onto the hope of this (I think because they altered the zone boundaries to match "flying zones" in the expansions?) but it might not be that. I think a while ago they mentioned adding Z-axis tracking for old zones, which might require the same changes.

They could be working on it, but don't pin your hopes on it until they announce it for certain.

Why add Z-axis tracking for old zones where it's unneeded if you never plan on adding something that uses it?

[Iscah]

Why add Z-axis tracking for old zones where it's unneeded if you never plan on adding something that uses it?

I don't know; consistency maybe if it's not much work. I just vaguely remember them saying it at some point.

ARR is mostly flat but there are definitely a few spots where it gets confusing. I got quite lost in Alder Springs as a new player, wandering back and forth in the lower part of the tunnels when the objective was up above.

[FF16Necromancer]

I'm just hoping that the development team are secretly working on some big surprises behind the scenes and that is the reason why some things feel a tad rushed/incomplete. The lack of a direct rival MMO also doesn't help matters much, I suppose.

Well, we know that the surprise is FF16, but not actually tied to FF14 itself unfortunately.

[yukiiyuki]

They tried to increase quality with same team and budget they had before, maybe even less, because they working on new FF main title with Yoshi P in lead. Base game was good, but patches is where game began to show cracks, almost all PVE went to boss in circles, they reusing so many assets in new wrapper, new races fiasco, making game easier for masses, slowly turning it into social platform. Game was different in ARR, even in HW they had different approach to the game. Maybe someday they'll stop the train of sheldued content and think about future of the game and how they want to see it, instead of mindlessly repeating same content over and over again, sometimes delivering cool ideas, that dies within a week. Or, they can continue doing half baked things in rush, but adding more emotes, stuff for social interaction etc. People love it, it's an MMO for lazy people, you can't find that on market, and money will keep this game for a long time in this state. And yes, I'm pretty sure that instead of hiring and teaching new people or maybe at least outsourcing, they trying their best to bring us 2.5 hairs on new races and maybe even bring missing genders. Of course they'll have reused bodies with unique heads that can't use older hairstyles. That means that very unlikely we get new character customization options or upgrated graphics in terms on textures and AA.
Still waiting minion farm btw.

[Pintsized]

making game easier for masses

Because MMOs can survive pandering only to the hardcore 5% or less of players able to do the content you're referring to.

[Reap00]

from how little content we've gotten this expansion compared to previous ones is making me wonder why xiv is so underfunded. so let's have a quick review shall we

Au Ra could wear headgear at launch
Au Ra could wear all hairstyles at launch
Au Ra had both genders
SAM and RDM still got level 60 primal and tome weapons despite being outdated content, and everything from level 50.
They got: Bismarck, Ravana, Thordan, Sephirot, Sophia, Nidhogg, Zurvan, All tome weapons (Hellfire and Shire), All three Alexander raid tiers. On top of all the base primals like Shiva and Ifrit, etc.
SAM and RDM both had PVP weapon models right away.
SAM and RDM continued to have new models added through 60+ content
Stormblood had new PVP content and glamours shipped out the gate.
Stormblood launched with a complete PVP overhaul (not a good thing though)
3 dungeons per patch in HW
2 dungeons per patch in SB
Relics that took longer than an hour to get
Savages had unique and innovative mechanics
2 Ultimates
Deep dungeons

but in Shadowbringers...
Viera cannot wear most headgear
Viera cannot use all hairstyles
Viera are gender locked
Hrothgar cannot wear most headgear
Hrothgar have 4 hairstyles and cannot change that at the aesthetician
Hrothgar are gender locked
GNB and DNC have had two starting weapon models made for them (Shire and the steel one you start with)
GNB and DNC got nothing else in the level 60 range.
GNB and DNC got none of the level 70 weapons beyond Scaevan, Ryumakyu and Omega, not a single primal at launch.
No: Susano, Shinryu, Byakko, Tsukuyomi, Suzaku, Seiryu, UCoB or UWU, A SINGLE omega raid tier, and only 2 tome weapons. Not even the basic primal weapons from ARR that everybody has at launch.
GNB and DNC have about 20 total unique weapon models, the rest being reskins. Yes even the new ultimate alex weapons are just reskinned Shire and Forgiven weapons.
Shadowbringers PVP glams almost didn't happen but yoshida needed somewhere to put the contest design winner from Stormblood.
1 dungeon per patch
No crafted SB primal weapons at launch
1 ultimate
No deep dungeon
Savage fights designed by B-team

If you are not enjoying the game you can take a break. I know its crazy talk but you can especially considering how easy it is to catch up by design. I could respond to everything you have gripes about but it won't resolve anything or change your mind so I won't waste the time.