At this point the gradual dumbing down of the game has got to be by far my biggest problem with it. I felt Shadowbringers was already very easy but it was at a level I was okay with, but now everything in Endwalker feels even easier still and I just can't see the sense in it.

Like they've already gone past the point of being able to let anyone through, all story mode content can be cleared with multiple players dead the whole time, so the continuous easing of content completely lacks any meaning. It's not even assisting anyone anymore, it's just actively removing stimulating gameplay. Who is still struggling? Who still can't clear story mode? I want to know what kind of player they think is playing this game because I don't understand.

If the game had always been like this it would be one thing, but there has been a clear and consistent reduction of challenge in virtually all areas of the game for 3 expansions straight now, and it's just not fair to the players who are already here and are comfortable with the way things are. Can we at least know where they eventually plan to bottom out?

I used to have fun running dungeons but now when I sign up for them I realize I'm only there for the rewards and I'd rather not run the content at all because it's just so mind-numbing. Mechanics barely tickle even if you fail them, there are no dps/tank/heal checks ever, every sharp edge has been sanded completely smooth, safe, and non-threatening. But games you can't lose aren't fun.

It's not just dungeons either. All normal mode content has suffered this fate. The new Alliance Raid is the easiest they've put out in a long time, which will become obvious next week once people start doing reclears.

Being told "do Extreme/Savage/Ultimate if you want engaging gameplay" is upsetting for one because it didn't use to be that way and secondly because the majority of content in the game is normal mode. It's really not okay for most of the game to be dull on the argument that it's just disposable backdrops meant to funnel players through the story, when players are expected to run that content daily. Maybe I just wanna run some dungeons, why does that have to mean I can't have any fun?

I still love the game in so many other ways but it's getting harder to put up with the day to day gameplay especially when it feels like it's only getting worse over time.