What is going on with Square Enix and the 14 team?

[Hurlstone]

Was the EW story controversial? I get not everyone would have been happy with it (Though I loved it!) but some make it sound as if it was at ‘The Last Jedi’ levels of division. I almost would not mind if that was the case, then at least poor old underrated Stormblood may not been seen in the negative light so many draw it in…

Overall I have enjoyed the 6.0+ era so far. Sure, there are things I do not like and feel the devs have failed in/continue to fail in (Summoner re-work, housing etc) but I do not really see this extreme shift in quality some have said. Voices may seem louder sure, but there are more players then ever and such negativity carries stronger on the wind then praise. A few of the common complaints are ones I have seen since 2.0, and in the end we all have our own bias which sometimes make us see things in only black and white. Not saying they should be ignored, we should always speak up for what we think works/does not (I hope that the housing curffuel gets the devs to finally do something about this thorn in the games side that will only fester if left in its current state longer, for example) but we do take it to the extremes sometimes.

[AziraSyuren]

Was the EW story controversial? I get not everyone would have been happy with it (Though I loved it!) but some make it sound as if it was at ‘The Last Jedi’ levels of division. I almost would not mind if that was the case, then at least poor old underrated Stormblood may not been seen in the negative light so many draw it in…

Overall I have enjoyed the 6.0+ era so far. Sure, there are things I do not like and feel the devs have failed in/continue to fail in (Summoner re-work, housing etc) but I do not really see this extreme shift in quality some have said. Voices may seem louder sure, but there are more players then ever and such negativity carries stronger on the wind then praise. A few of the common complaints are ones I have seen since 2.0, and in the end we all have our own bias which sometimes make us see things in only black and white. Not saying they should be ignored, we should always speak up for what we think works/does not (I hope that the housing curffuel gets the devs to finally do something about this thorn in the games side that will only fester if left in its current state longer, for example) but we do take it to the extremes sometimes.

It's a lot more divisive because to most people it's either the best or the worst. Previous expansion stories were either universally meh or universally good. But here, the very nature of the story makes it much more difficult to have a measured position.

[BrokentoothMarch]

Was the EW story controversial? I get not everyone would have been happy with it (Though I loved it!) but some make it sound as if it was at ‘The Last Jedi’ levels of division. I almost would not mind if that was the case, then at least poor old underrated Stormblood may not been seen in the negative light so many draw it in…

Overall I have enjoyed the 6.0+ era so far. Sure, there are things I do not like and feel the devs have failed in/continue to fail in (Summoner re-work, housing etc) but I do not really see this extreme shift in quality some have said. Voices may seem louder sure, but there are more players then ever and such negativity carries stronger on the wind then praise. A few of the common complaints are ones I have seen since 2.0, and in the end we all have our own bias which sometimes make us see things in only black and white. Not saying they should be ignored, we should always speak up for what we think works/does not (I hope that the housing curffuel gets the devs to finally do something about this thorn in the games side that will only fester if left in its current state longer, for example) but we do take it to the extremes sometimes.

Controversial? Maybe not, but I was personally a bit grossed out. It felt like fetishization of suffering and the ego stroking of a narcissistic Hydaelyn who beats us because she loves us.

I loathed it to be sure, but that hardly means other people aren't allowed to like it. I guess I'm more taken off-guard because I adored the story of ShB and HW, so I'm just whiplashed by finding something I can't have enough of as a story before being beaten over the head with the bowl.

Glad you are are having fun, don't let forums let you down, I haven't seen so much negativity since Stormblood horrible launch.
Don't pay too much attention, the game is not perfect and like you said there are spots for improvement but to be honest many recent complaints are about core features of the game which are the pillar of this game since ARR. Others are complaints that exists since forever.

For the later, just let people whine and hope SE will keep improving on baby steps like they have been for years and accept that sometimes they will make mistakes.
About other complaints, accept it that this game is not WoW and it will never be. Complaining about the style of raids, rotation, leveling experience will fall into deaf ears.

Maybe I'm cruel, but I expect more than babysteps to fix basic functions and features from a multi-billion dollar company.

[Oglaf]

Maybe I'm cruel, but I expect more than babysteps to fix basic functions and features from a multi-billion dollar company.

But that's the point that many refugees doesn't understand, Square Enix is a multi-billion dollar company, but each project operates like a company itself and has a budget based on their expected profit.
It might be mind blowing but SE treated FFXIV like an underdog until ShB release. The team has grown since then but in development there is a saying "3 women can't birth in 3 months", it will take time to show results which I believe we might see in next expansion.

[BrokentoothMarch]

But that's the point that many refugees doesn't understand, Square Enix is a multi-billion dollar company, but each project operates like a company itself and has a budget based on their expected profit.
It might be mind blowing but SE treated FFXIV like an underdog until ShB release. The team has grown since then but in development there is a saying "3 women can't birth in 3 months", it will take time to show results which I believe we might see in next expansion.

Oh, I agree completely and understand budget allocation. In fact, I'd be unsurprised if we found out budget was pitiful as, given the money it pulls in with already-existing budget, there's little incentive to endanger the bottom line by increasing expenditure on a game that borderline guarantees growth and praise. I think the issue therefor is when we have people who continue to praise and ignore the problems of the game. Ironically, a lot of lambasting or criticism may be the thing that is required to encourage a larger budget or team for the game.

The one thing any company hates more than not making money is losing money. But if we keep promising they'll never lose money, there will never be cause for improvement. While I'm not saying grab the torch and throw the fire at the headquarters, I really am tiring of pretending everything is okay as how many defenders of the company will advocate.

I suppose I have no faith things have changed and I don't want to keep hoping that it'll be different next patch given the required time investment. I've just been here since HW and my body is growing resistant to copium since SB.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Was the EW story controversial? I get not everyone would have been happy with it (Though I loved it!) but some make it sound as if it was at ‘The Last Jedi’ levels of division. I almost would not mind if that was the case, then at least poor old underrated Stormblood may not been seen in the negative light so many draw it in…

Overall I have enjoyed the 6.0+ era so far. Sure, there are things I do not like and feel the devs have failed in/continue to fail in (Summoner re-work, housing etc) but I do not really see this extreme shift in quality some have said. Voices may seem louder sure, but there are more players then ever and such negativity carries stronger on the wind then praise. A few of the common complaints are ones I have seen since 2.0, and in the end we all have our own bias which sometimes make us see things in only black and white. Not saying they should be ignored, we should always speak up for what we think works/does not (I hope that the housing curffuel gets the devs to finally do something about this thorn in the games side that will only fester if left in its current state longer, for example) but we do take it to the extremes sometimes.

Honestly, I also feel that people over-praise Heavensward and Shadowbringers for being the best jrpg story in the genre. I'm sorry, those two expansions still had issues with its story and pacing, especially Shadowbringers and saying either of those two are better than the plots of lets say FFVI or FFIX is just extremely delusional. Now are they still good? Oh Absolutely, but with me at the very least the reason I very much enjoy FFXIV's story is because I see the whole pie, not the little slices here and there.

[BrokentoothMarch]

Honestly, I also feel that people over-praise Heavensward and Shadowbringers for being the best jrpg story in the genre. I'm sorry, those two expansions still had issues with its story and pacing, especially Shadowbringers and saying either of those two are better than the plots of lets say FFVI or FFIX is just extremely delusional. Now are they still good? Oh Absolutely, but with me at the very least the reason I very much enjoy FFXIV's story is because I see the whole pie, not the little slices here and there.

ShB is the best expansion in FFXIV.
I still maintain FFVI is the best story in the series.

I will admit I disagree with you on a lot of points, but I'm whole-heartedly with you here.

[Hurlstone]

It's a lot more divisive because to most people it's either the best or the worst. Previous expansion stories were either universally meh or universally good. But here, the very nature of the story makes it much more difficult to have a measured position.

A good point. Added with the fact that its the end to a 10+ story, which outside of the stories subject matter was bound to split opinions.

Controversial? Maybe not, but I was personally a bit grossed out. It felt like fetishization of suffering and the ego stroking of a narcissistic Hydaelyn who beats us because she loves us.

I loathed it to be sure, but that hardly means other people aren't allowed to like it. I guess I'm more taken off-guard because I adored the story of ShB and HW, so I'm just whiplashed by finding something I can't have enough of as a story before being beaten over the head with the bowl.

That's an interesting take on the story I have not really seen expressed so far. I ending up going from really disliking her at the start to you-know-who being my favourites character in the game. I can totally see what you mean though, and thinking about it, it would have been much better if one or two of the Scions actually saw it that way too... everyone accepts Hydaelyn's actions with conveniently little fuss.

Honestly, I also feel that people over-praise Heavensward and Shadowbringers for being the best jrpg story in the genre. I'm sorry, those two expansions still had issues with its story and pacing, especially Shadowbringers and saying either of those two are better than the plots of lets say FFVI or FFIX is just extremely delusional. Now are they still good? Oh Absolutely, but with me at the very least the reason I very much enjoy FFXIV's story is because I see the whole pie, not the little slices here and there.

Thats fair. Funnily enough, I did feel that I would come to the same conclusion before playing Shadowbringers... although in my case I do think its one of the best FF stories of all time… I will admit I do think Heavensward is a little overrated. I mean I adore it, but its not perfect and has its flaws (Looking at you, resolution to the post-ARR questline…) and again, I feel its a real shame how Stormblood gets put down by fandom when it actually has alot going for it.

[Atelier-Bagur]

=Hurlstone;5905745
Thats fair. Funnily enough, I did feel that I would come to the same conclusion before playing Shadowbringers... although in my case I do think its one of the best FF stories of all time… I will admit I do think Heavensward is a little overrated. I mean I adore it, but its not perfect and has its flaws (Looking at you, resolution to the post-ARR questline…) and again, I feel its a real shame how Stormblood gets put down by fandom when it actually has alot going for it.

Yeah Its a shame, there's a lot of really good story bits with Stormblood that people just gloss over. I appreciate the ambition they were going for with tackling two entire nations and me I feel like in general it did its job with trying to tell its story fine. But it was also very awkwardly done. My biggest complaint is that Gyr Abania and the Far East really should've gotten more zones to compensate but then we run the issue of the pacing being too wonky. Although I see expansion stories as a whole anyway (which means I count the post-patch msq leading to the next expansion) so the extra meat we got with post-Stormblood helped with keeping the entirety of the expansion on the right path.

I also was never much of a character hater, I dont get too attached to a particular character and try not to see the "black" and "white" in the things they do. I understood Lyse and I was genuinely surprised people had real BIG issues with her? All I cared for is seeing character growth and I felt had a good time with our travels with her. Although to be honest; Gosetsu, Hien and Yugiri pretty much stole the whole show for me anyway lol. I absolutely loved those 3 and its a shame its more popular simping on Aymeric (which dont get wrong he's still awesome!) than seeing any actual love for Hien.