They knew this was coming and did nothing about it.

[Neoyoshi]

Stop blaming covid for every last problem in the world, it was old a year ago and it's definitely old right now.

I'm sorry, but i too have to chime in, because Covid really did cause very real problems; problems that have yet to fully course-correct- namely manufacturing of micro-transistors among many many other core components computing hardware require- ranging from smart devices, to even the chips put in automobiles.

Please please do some research.

[Arazehl]

They accepted people's money and still pushed it out in this state and you're defending them. They could have taken that large preorder money and put it towards a handful of new servers, they have known since the launch of the ORIGINAL GAME, 11 years ago, that this stuff happens in EVERY MMO and that they should know it will happen and they should be prepared or expect the backlash. Covid is not an excuse, they have had since the announcement trailer of endwalker to acquire hardware for new servers, they are a BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY.

It's obvious you've been away from the game for over a half a decade. You know nothing of what's going on or why. You just want to come on here and stomp your feet and cry victim without doing any research on the root cause. I'm seems you haven't watched one Live Letter this year or read up on the Lodestone of current status or updates. Cuz you don't care, only about what you want and forget what they've done so far. The expansion is what you paid for and early access was just a perk, but not a guaranteed one at that. I'm sure they are trying to find ways to help the current issues. I suggest you read up on what's been going on during your time away before posting.

[Tyssyn]

Cloud servers are not miracles either. Another game I play recently migrated to them, and now the game is horrible. Lag constantly, things take forever to rez. I shudder to even try to imagine what FFXIV would be like on a cloud server. If their code would even work on a cloud server.

Also, there is the Oceanic Data Center being added. It's been delayed because it took them more time than they imagined due to the installation team being unable to travel due to the pandemic - which is not over at all. Even if they did manage to get enough servers to add another data center to each location, there're still MANY issues with getting them up and running. First, they would have to lease/buy the physical space for the servers, then they would need to have teams able to go install the servers. After all that, then you would have to hope that you could get people to MOVE to these new servers. Many people are very invested on their current server. They won't want to leave their friends, their FCs, their houses if they are lucky enough to own one. Adding new servers isn't nearly the quick cure-all people imagine them to be.

[Ozzmal]

I mean they did warn us =/. Ive had zero problems outside the first 30 minutes of launch, but it does suck to hear that others are experiencing difficulties =( Im sure they're doing all they can to get things going smoother, hopefully it gets sorted out soon.

[Izar_Chillen]

A shortage in the supply of semiconductors first hit the automotive industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and has had a cascading effect, causing global disruption. The shortage can be traced back to the first half of 2020, when overall consumer demand for cars declined during the lockdown. This forced chip manufacturers to shift their focus to other areas, such as computer equipment and mobile devices, which spiked in demand with more people working remotely.

As 5G and cloud-based services grew, more chips were needed for communication platforms like Zoom and video streaming services.

Part of the problem is that the return on investment isn't compelling enough to build new foundries—which cost billions of dollars and take years to construct—to satisfy the demand by automakers, according to IDC. Automakers operate in a just-in-time environment without business continuity planning, according to Mario Morales, program vice president of the semiconductor group at IDC.

SEE: Foundries are raking in big bucks and record revenue amid global chip shortage (TechRepublic)

After they canceled orders early on in the pandemic, disgruntled suppliers turned to other markets that were still doing well, such as consumer electronics, and automakers found themselves lower on the priority list.

Some customers are hoarding supplies and buying more components than they need in case supply dries up, as companies like Huawei stockpiled supplies in advance of U.S. tech bans on China earlier this year.


Chips are in everything from PlayStation 5s and toothbrushes to washing machines and alarm clocks. But there’s not enough to go around — it’s a multifaceted issue that shows no signs of abating.
Glenn O’Donnell, a vice president research director at advisory firm Forrester, believes the shortage could last until 2023.
The chief executive of German chipmaker Infineon said that the semiconductor industry is in unchartered territory.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/othe...now/ar-AAR0jUF

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/12/the-...til-2023-.html

[hynaku]

Cant release new servers when you dont have the hardware due to ONGOING PANDEMIC AND SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.

They could have added them a few years ago to prepair for the future database they would have. Now it's to late because of there very poor decisions.

[CaptainFishSticks]

They could have added them a few years ago to prepair for the future database they would have. Now it's to late because of there very poor decisions.

A few years ago Yoshi-P's team was still considered the B-Team in Square-Enix. The reason why there are such few changes to the overall infrastructure to the game is because the company would not provide funding for more than just content.

With the gradually-rising popularity of the game, Square-Enix is providing more and more funding but now we're in the middle of chip shortages with a global pandemic affecting the acquisition of new ones. If you're tired of hearing this point and feel like it's spoken as a broken record, well...Sorry, but that's the only explanation we're given and it lines up with everything currently going on in the world.

[Ranaku]

Someday people will start to understand that SE is also just a business and buying new servers for a initial surge of players isn't worth it. This is a general practice in the gaming industry, you don't set up servers for the peak, why buying like double the hardware which will be useless in a couple weeks when the hype died down?

And yes this practice is commonly used in the industry even if semi conductors would rain from the skies and corona would be gone in a instant.

[Bearded]

They could have added them a few years ago to prepair for the future database they would have. Now it's to late because of there very poor decisions.

Sure - SE would have invested millions (as data centres have ongoing costs) to pay for servers that were not needed years ago (and all things considered at the time could not have been expected to have been needed even with a new expansion release). If you think that's true then I hope you are not in charge of any business.

[Sharkbite]

Paid for the expansion - went in queue - over 4,000 in the queue. Waited 3.5 HOURS! and finally got to number 383 - then "lobby server has encountered an error".

Had to restart and now over 6000 in the queue - so if you are riling at waiting 30 mins - then try my "club"

If you pay for early access then you should at least get it. If they cannot provide it then it should not be offered perhaps.

Maybe they will consider a bit of compensation for the paying customer perhaps.