Where is all the content?

[sharknado]

Cloud services are not really designed to handle this type of stuff as GW2 players found out when that game attempted to move to cloud services rendering the game unplayable for over a year.

It all comes down to what cloud you have. Blizzard went a big way from physical blade-servers running given realm to completely distributed gameplay. This has some disadvantages like vertical scaling (you can't really have open world mass battles, PvP mostly) which for FF14 isn't even a game feature. FF14 can't be distributed because it's still legacy code. We can't have WoW style transmog system because of legacy limitations and on and on. We still have loading screens between zones. If SE really want to invest into the game, into that won't make a return on investment on it own they have to invest in new backend and then new client. The new backend should then be able to be run as a distributed set of services that are way easier to scale horizontally.

Blizzard was quick to publish native Apple M1 client, then they even published Windows on ARM version. This is like very tiny fraction of their playerbase yet they did it. Their Windows client is on the latest DX12 features including some basic raytracing. They do fail at quality control right now and still have legacy elements like dumb lighting which makes DXR usage super niche, yet they invest into such thing. By Legion they pretty much learned how to make a MMO expansion launch that at time was many times bigger launch than any of FF14 expansion launches.

But SE can just add new "instances" in their server infrastructure - more players more hardware and just make new patches with content and it will sell as it's selling now - depends who pulls the strings in SE in terms of this game funding and business plan. Like they can just make say 5 EW style expansion on existing software and get the profits. If they re-implement the game anew it will eat profits from like 1-2 expansions and then allow making "better" expansions that on start will allow to offer bit more and grow bit more over what old system could handle - with having more tangible benefits later on plus an ability to scale way better if an expansion explodes or sproutbringer 2.0 happens. It all comes down to who will decide this.

[CKNovel]

I can understand the gear sets.
Fate boss music needs to be updated, we still had ARR music for mid boss battle until 5.3...

Ah yes the areas.
Man I sure do like flying over nothing but water to get to my destination.
Azem steppes? 60% of it was grass if not more.
Even ShB final area was too big but empty. I could feel that when there was a hunt somewhere.

Voice acting... Well yes, I wish we had voice acting during raid.
We all remember iconic lines, if I just say "Ravana", "Susano" or "SoS" you will have sudden voice lines that will come to you.

Server issues, login was hard. But the game itself had no problems.
Yes they need to upgrade the login, but to say the servers had many issues is a stretch.

I'm not defending SQEX this time, we had the same amount of content we did but waited a longer time for it.
I've been disappointed by the disparity between the job updates. I'm still salty about that "it looks like nothing changed about MCH but huuuh let's talk about it anyway."
If Yoshida said "Actually it's just to avoid a development crush." I could understand it, they could've asked for a year.

[RulerOfPotaoes]

The issue is to keep it simple, that the game has become (more popular and profitable.) Yet the production budget seems to always stay relatively the same for each expansion and patches.

If FF14 really is SE most profitable IP, then where are all the funds going?

It's a real shame the company is not willing to inject some serious and substantial amount of funds and resources back into the game's development.

[Shin96]

The issue is to keep it simple, that the game has become (more popular and profitable.) Yet the production budget seems to always stay relatively the same for each expansion and patches.

If FF14 really is SE most profitable IP, then where are all the funds going?

It's a real shame the company is not willing to inject some serious and substantial amount of funds and resources back into the game's development.

Most of us barely care where our money goes into. As long as we feel satisfied; that alone can be enough for some people.

[Miiu]

The issue is to keep it simple, that the game has become (more popular and profitable.) Yet the production budget seems to always stay relatively the same for each expansion and patches.

If FF14 really is SE most profitable IP, then where are all the funds going?

It's a real shame the company is not willing to inject some serious and substantial amount of funds and resources back into the game's development.

Don't underestimate how expensive game development can be. You can definitely see the increased production value with each expansion. Compare cutscenes in ARR to Cutscenes in later expansion. You can see updated facial rigs. More custom animations. More work being put into camera movements. Music etc.
Obviously they're still limited by the engine they're using and the platforms the game is running on. So you can't expect a sudden increased visuals boost. They're sadly confined to PS4 limitations.
Nonetheless the production quality keeps going up with each expansion.

[Commander_Justitia]

If FF14 really is SE most profitable IP, then where are all the funds going?

Marketing. Innovation dies with no real competitors. They simply don't need to deliever, people are paying anyway atm

People forget the content they announced to cut in the past in order to bring new other type of content. I'm not really seeing much of it happening. I will be suprised if we see more than 1 ultimate this addon.

[myahele]

The issue is to keep it simple, that the game has become (more popular and profitable.) Yet the production budget seems to always stay relatively the same for each expansion and patches.

If FF14 really is SE most profitable IP, then where are all the funds going?

It's a real shame the company is not willing to inject some serious and substantial amount of funds and resources back into the game's development.

Probably other projects and to recoup some losses from them such as the Avengers and Luminous Production; Forespoken and Babylon's Fall doesn't seem to have lukewarm reception as well.

They supposedly used money from the cash shop to finance the EU servers years ago and probably future servers, so it doesn't even look like SE is supporting them on that end.

[Reaperking386]

I have not finished the story but can say that story is subjective. Some will find it as art and others will find it as bad writing.

As concerns of content.. content has always been dry in between X.0 and X.1. Just look at the previous patch trailers. Why people always tell you not to rush the story? Is this an excuse for the team? No, but players should expect this, unfortunately.

Concerning music someone mentioned that the main composer was going through cancer and while you can have a backup composer with Square's money, there may be something in the contract or respect for the composer for why they are not using new music.

Voice acting is never used in raids unless in extremely rare instances.

Screw big empty zones like Ruby Sea. They were so huge that it took forever to go anywhere and felt empty and I can see the team also saw that as a waste of time. Just because it is a zone does not mean it needs to be huge.

[Sclair0]

1. Gearsets. Big agree, there's been obvious cut backs in this department. If they need to reuse gearsets then they could at least change which classes they are locked to, that would go a long way to making them at least feel 'new'
2. Music. Im quite satisfied with the music for this expansion. I'd always love more but I didn't find it lacking
3. Zone Size. Sorta Aree. Labarynthos and Ultima Thule are fine in their smallness, makes doing things like fates easier. I wish the Moon was bigger though! I want more moon landmarks!
4. I agree- It is very weird Elidibus doesn't have Ryne style voice lines. (This might mean the 24 man is voiced though?).
5. I have no idea about server infrastructure

6. I love the story. Your points are fine here, I also found the ultima thule stuff predictable, but not in a bad way. In sort of a classic Final Fantasy way. Meteion seemed to fill the niche of 11th hour villain from previous FF games as well as being more of a symbol for antagonistic themes in the story. Some of Venat's plan has a lot of holes though, especially given Graha already confirmed you can time travel and change things without destroying the universe.

[Iscah]

Some of Venat's plan has a lot of holes though, especially given Graha already confirmed you can time travel and change things without destroying the universe.

Different goals though. G'raha is trying to break away from the future that he came from. Venat wants to keep time on the course that will eventually bring her to you in the present day so she can help you save your world even if hers is doomed.