As said above, Guildwars 2 is pretty great as far as general over world feeling...but I firmly think it’s already too late for FF, unless they spent an entire expansions worth of effort to do a massive TLC update.

Ways to make the over world more relevant (but I feel is too late):
  • Revamp physics engine to allow better world interaction (legit jumping puzzles)
  • Revamp flying, or make mounts more interesting (again see GW2 where you can climb up walls etc and flying is more akin to gliding)
  • Better server latency, to allow for actual racing or interaction with environment. As is if I am running slightly in front of my wife, on her PC it’s the exact opposite. Impossible to have a “photo finish”. Better latency = moving platform interaction, etc.
  • Give multiple ways to interact with open world content. Eg. From GW2: Bandits set a farm on fire. You can a) extinguish flames, b) fight the bandits directly and/or c) try to rescue people/animals.
  • Make the world dangerous, with open world places to explore with a “your probably gonna die in there” expectation. This is in direct conflict to what YoshiP wants for the game.