Increase of Assets on maps

[Kes13a]

Hmmm I would disagree with this direction. Zone loading isn't that big of an issue imo and rather than get one giant static zone I'd rather have 3 dynamic ones. Further more technology moves forward so as the ps4 becomes deprecated and the shortages abate there is all the more reason to make the game move forward along with the world's technology.

Optimization can go a long way as well to ease the lag issues, which is why a game can look better and perform better than other jankier games with worse graphics.

If both were possible then all the better but:

Rich dynamic zones > eliminating 5 second loading times

the problem is not everyone is on a good computer. zone loading may not be an issue for you, lag may not be an issue for you

I know some people that do have lag issues and have to play at a lower resolution just to have a decent frame rate.

it is a nice idea, but you are not playing a single player game where only your own computer would be affected. nice to see sure, but at the expense of many others in the game without your system, unlikely to be a thing.

[Ath192]

the problem is not everyone is on a good computer. zone loading may not be an issue for you, lag may not be an issue for you

I know some people that do have lag issues and have to play at a lower resolution just to have a decent frame rate.

it is a nice idea, but you are not playing a single player game where only your own computer would be affected. nice to see sure, but at the expense of many others in the game without your system, unlikely to be a thing.

The thing is there's a couple of things going against this argument.

1. Number 1 the assets increasing is a foregone conclusion, SE is updating the graphics so it's likely people who are currently lagging will have to drop out of the game or upgrade their systems. Unfortunate for some but true.
2. This game is a luxury good. Running this game with the base subscription for 1 year is $12.99 x12 = $154.00 annually, plus whatever the base game costs. A base PS5 costs $399.00. As such the cost to upgrade isn't unreasonable.
3. The cost to upgrade would be unreasonable if it happened often, however we can largely expect this game to run on the PS5 for half a decade or more. As it has for previous systems.
4. New games with more demanding graphics FFXIV will never have are selling just fine, meaning gamers at large are running systems more than capable already and do upgrade their systems occasionally.
5. Keeping the games graphics stale will prevent new gamers with their newer consoles and PCs from trying the game out on the basis that it is too outdated when they can play other RPGs with better graphics.

So while keeping the game stagnant may be a net plus for a minority of players. The majority of future gamers and current gamers will have systems more than capable of running the graphics update SE has underway. So this is merely showcasing some of the things I'd like to see as it happens.

Keeping a game locked to outdated specifications is a greater threat than keeping the game current, especially one that already costs $150 a year not including the base purchase or the expansions that will come out. None of this is implying the game needs a super computer to run well, but it should keep up with the generational increases in hardware capabilities.

And on the pure business sense of things, catering to players who can afford reasonable hardware is more profitable for SE as well because they will also likely indulge in further luxuries like mog station items and dyes since they enjoy having their characters look awesome.

[Avatre]

2. This game is a luxury good. Running this game with the base subscription for 1 year is $12.99 x12 = $154.00 annually, plus whatever the base game costs. A base PS5 costs $399.00. As such the cost to upgrade isn't unreasonable.

I would agree with this point, if it weren't for supply and demand issues. Trying to get a PS5 right now, or some of the newer PC components, isn't as easy as people seem to think because they were able to get their hands on some.

Edit: Just checked 3 different sites for PS5, and BestBuy, Walmart, and EB games have none - except for a refurbished digital one at BestBuy going for almost 1100...which is 600 more than a brand new one.

[Ath192]

I would agree with this point, if it weren't for supply and demand issues. Trying to get a PS5 right now, or some of the newer PC components, isn't as easy as people seem to think because they were able to get their hands on some.

Edit: Just checked 3 different sites for PS5, and BestBuy, Walmart, and EB games have none - except for a refurbished digital one at BestBuy going for almost 1100...which is 600 more than a brand new one.

It's a gradual process. The Graphics card shortage is reportedly abating and has been documented by numerous outlets. The PS5 one will as well with time. So instead of treating this as of happening right now, treat these things as if they will take years to develop and implement. By then it is safe to assume the shortages will have also abated. Barring more global disruptions.

[Zer0ofTime]

the problem is not everyone is on a good computer. zone loading may not be an issue for you, lag may not be an issue for you

I know some people that do have lag issues and have to play at a lower resolution just to have a decent frame rate.

it is a nice idea, but you are not playing a single player game where only your own computer would be affected. nice to see sure, but at the expense of many others in the game without your system, unlikely to be a thing.

Can't hold everyone back because someone holds themself back with limited older tech.

[kaynide]

Can't hold everyone back because someone holds themself back with limited older tech.

Japan is a console-based market. Most Japanese play on console, er-go, it's not "holding everyone back" when the main target audience is using PS4.. maaaybe PS5- the very thing "holding it back".

[Zer0ofTime]

Japan is a console-based market. Most Japanese play on console, er-go, it's not "holding everyone back" when the main target audience is using PS4.. maaaybe PS5- the very thing "holding it back".

consoles are only 30-40% of the player base, and I wouldn't exactly call 1 region that makes up part of that 30-40% "main target audience"

[kaynide]

consoles are only 30-40% of the player base, and I wouldn't exactly call 1 region that makes up part of that 30-40% "main target audience"

Japanese game, with Japanese devs who read Japanese feedback. The majority of Japanese play on PS4

Regardless, they are still bound to keep the game in line with whatever console is lagging, even if it's only 30%, over niche high-spec PCs.

Moreover, the very fact that it is Cross Platform FURTHER nulifies any "BuT tHe NoObS gOtTa UpDaTe ThEiR hArDwArEs!"

Until the devs decide to drop PS4 support, THAT is the bottom line.

[Zer0ofTime]

Regardless, they are still bound to keep the game in line with whatever console is lagging, even if it's only 30%, over niche high-spec PCs.

Moreover, the very fact that it is Cross Platform FURTHER nulifies any "BuT tHe NoObS gOtTa UpDaTe ThEiR hArDwArEs!"

Until the devs decide to drop PS4 support, THAT is the bottom line.

That's kind of a straw man argument. For starters, everyone on the PS4 KNOWS their timer is ticking down to 0 now that the PS5 has been out over a year and will only start to become the norm. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 already have to write off the old gen consoles and the console company themselves really have final say if they keep their online services rolling (like how Nintendo is shutting down all it's older consoles online stuff including the new 3ds)

The other side of things is these games are developed ON a PC somewhere. There are no devs using a ps4 ps4pro or ps5 coding the game (play testing it at best maybe) so it's not like they wouldn't try to see what they are capable of doing despite server limitations, I'm sure there are a lot of fun in house only things as with any dev that only they get to see from that side and never makes it to public because they know it can't be feasible. I am more certain that they have the ability to even bring newer lighting techniques into the game if they worked with nvidia and wanted ray tracing or something added (since it was even able to be added to quake 2).

There are a lot of things they can keep pushing because they are making these games on a PC to stay ahead of that bottom line bare bones minimum system requirements that is the PS4. The moment that system is retired everyone is forced to swap to new hardware anyway like it or not, it's the same outcome at the end of it, got to get better hardware to keep up with the times.

[DezereDawn]

Can't hold everyone back because someone holds themself back with limited older tech.

Until GPU and PS5 prices are reasonable and available at all times, this is a terrible take

Fact of the matter is also that this game is 10 years old now, and while you can expect improvements over time, there's an upper limit to where it becomes reasonable to work with the engine, as it stands, 14 is, as far as i'm aware, still running on a heavily modified crystal tools, and i don't doubt the engine is reaching it's upper limit rather quickly, to go further than that would require exponentially more processing power for very little, if any benefit

i'd argue that's the case for most games though, these days, while i can tell the difference between late ps4 and early ps5 games, i really don't see it being much more pleasing to the eye, and i'd rather have rock solid performance on more machines as a viable option than an extra 2000 polygon's in my character's hair, and some lighting that looks somewhat better than my current settings