Thread: The future of FFXIV, in 6.1 and beyond!

The Live Letter where Yoshi-P discusses the plans for the next 10 years of FFXIV is fast approaching, and there are some things that I think are essential to have, if this game is to be even better!

• They need to focus on expanding character customization. The character creator can make beautiful characters, but usually everyone kinda looks the same. It's been hinted in the halloween event that there will be new hair colors coming, so I think It's possible that they will expand things. But why stop there? They could do things like decoupling Au Ra horns from faces, and add eyebrow options to every highlander face (It doesn't make sense that Sharlayan born highlanders would have shaved eyebrows, since that is an Ala Mhigan custom). And that's just the basics. We can't forget the new races! Vieras need to have access to all hairstyles, and hrothgars need to have free hair customization as well! With that also comes the need for hats, since what's impeding them from adding those is the fact the new race's hairtyles don't have hair deformation states for hats.

• They need to upgrade the game's engine and graphics. Other MMOs have shown that upgrading graphics while an MMO is already out is possible. The current artstyle from FF, which I use to call the "mud filter" is not cute anymore, and makes the game look quite dated. If they updated the graphics even little enough to look like what's possible already with some GShade presets the game would already look more modern and miles better. We also need higher resolution textures and better anti aliasing. It is a PS5 game after all, and they already said that more visual updates will come at a later time when they released that version.

• I think for the game's longevity, and an endless wellspring of content, they need to overhaul the glamour system. They need to implement the "glamour log" which Yoshi-p already alluded to have wanted to add, but was unable to because of limitations. Imagine having every gear you acquire being saved in a log and not needing to keep that gearpiece. We could run every content in the game to try and collect every glamour piece without needing to worry about storage. PF would have farm groups all the time and it would do wonders for queues as well. Also, they need to relax job restrictions for glamour. Imagine if every job could wear every gear piece ever, barring AF gear maybe. Character expression would be even more amazing than it already is.

For the short term, 6.1 needs to be jam-packed with content. If there is only alliance raid, ultimate, new extreme, and new pvp mode, I can see it not lasting much. They need to add either island sanctuary, a new deep dungeon, or the first step of the relic in that patch. Maybe they can even add something unexpected, like blitzball!


What about you, what are your hopes for the future of the game? What do you think is needed for it's longevity?

All I know is that I'm sick of Y'shtola, Thancred, and the word "Allagans." I want them desperately to create a new heroine for their promo material and to give us another ancient high tech civilization with a less jarring color scheme than Allagans have, call it Lufenia, Gesthalian, Nifleheim, anything really.

I also would like to see a shuffling of our party members in order to create a team that has more meaningful interactions. In games like Dragon Age, your party members are not afraid to disagree with your actions and sometimes bicker/joke amongst themselves and it helps flesh them out as characters-the closest we've had to that in game come from our interactions with a certain trio in Elpis. The scions are pretty bland in comparison, other than Estinien and some of Alisae's more defining moments. I would like to see the spiritual successors to the trio appear in some way or form, maybe not as direct reincarnations but definitely feel free to draw from their distinctive personalities.

In terms of future settings-I will once again voice my opinion in support of a classic fantasy setting as opposed to something more niche "because X is located in this part of the world, X in FFXIV must draw inspiration from it." This trend is not sustainable in the long term and will result in either running out of ideas, or veering off into niches that do not appeal to the Final Fantasy audience. In short, send us to a kingdom, not another republic, and please avoid forcing in real-world locations/cultures without a strong enough link to the main plot.

(Also, I feel the need to remind people that New World/the Americas is not solely defined by tribal civilizations-it is entirely possible and more realistic to have European-style empires/kingdoms there in order to give a more Final Fantasy feel to the region, rather than an Indiana Jones one. To me at least, places like Mexico for example aren't defined solely by Aztec ruins-Mexico city has palaces, cathedrals, and various angelic statues that contribute to its makeup as well as its Aztec elements. Cuba is another place I would draw from if given the chance, with Havana's unique streets. I believe Lestallum in FFXV was based off it, actually.)

When it comes to the supernatural forces of the game, I would like for a new pair of gods to arise that inherit the will of Hydaelyn and Zodiark. This formed the basis for sequels to the two original Dissidia game: when Cosmos and Chaos both died, Materia and Spiritus were born of their enduring wills, but are distinct from their original counterparts. I believe this will serve to undo how we fell into the trap of basically "killing magic" again in Endwalker, as is the case in several Final Fantasy games like FFVI and FFXV.

Originally Posted by KageTokage

The Garleans and Ascians are still a potential catalyst for problems with multiple legions as well as some of the Paragons unaccounted for.

Perhaps they'll be dealt with within the 6.x cycle, but I could just as easily see the remaining Ascians going rogue like Fandaniel and pursuing a new agenda on one of the other continents.

I said garleans also because even the remaining legions were asking for the eorzean alliance's support in that part of the msq... so I don't think they'll be up for evil anymore. If the other ascians show up I hope they are allies or something fun because they don't have the rejoining to worry about anymore. Gaia is an ascian and she's our friend for example!

Stop dumbhing down the combat system (to be hones reaper is cool but it is boring)
New mechanics.
Jump challenges.
More chaotic neutral WoL.
Add more stuff to the gold saucer.
Make more overworld stuff have mounts as rewards.
Create another path for character progression i.e. there is no medium between DF and Savage.