We lost 70% of our player base half a year in

[Theodric]

You'd have a better metric with LuckyBancho.. I think that's what it's called.

IIRC, Lucky Bancho was actually referring to the Steam figures as a point of concern as well during the last census. We'll likely never get official numbers to work with, unfortunately, though I do get the impression that things are a little shaky lately.

[Brightamethyst]

This always happens in every MMO. New expansion comes out and people sub like crazy, and then it drops off again tl the next major patch or expansion.

This is especially true of FFXIV due to its heavily story based structure and minimal need for grinding or raiding to stay current. Subbing for a month, doing all the new quests, and quitting again til the next patch is a very valid play style.

[Lihtleita]

imagine xiv dying before xi

[Padudu]

IIRC, Lucky Bancho was actually referring to the Steam figures as a point of concern as well during the last census. We'll likely never get official numbers to work with, unfortunately, though I do get the impression that things are a little shaky lately.

Dang, were they? That's kind of a shame, I haven't checked last census.

And yeah, SE would never give up those numbers even if you tried to pry them from their dead hands. It's definitely felt "not as alive" lately, but still "alive", certainly not dead, dying, and on the way out like the OP is implying lol. At least not anytime soon.

[Theodric]

This is especially true of FFXIV due to its heavily story based structure and minimal need for grinding or raiding to stay current. Subbing for a month, doing all the new quests, and quitting again til the next patch is a very valid play style.

Not nearly so valid for those of us who prefer to stick around and have things to do in-game that are meaningful rather than ten minute daily or weekly tasks. We've arguably long since passed the point where the development team should have decided to front load an expansion with something along the lines of the relic weapon quests, a Deep Dungeon or equivalent to Eureka and Bozja in order to help give veteran players who are all caught up something to do.

[Johners]

The popularity of any online game fluctuates based on it's content cycle. There was a massive influx of players during ShB downtime, the expansion launched and now we're mid cycle between 6.1 and 6.2. The game still has a very healthy player base of people actively playing it, there's nothing to worry about.

[Espon]

You posted a screenshot as evidence and you're not even reading it correctly.

First off, you're looking at peak, and not average. It's not a 70% decrease, it's actually about half as much as it was at expansion launch, or about the same as the month before the expansion launched.
Expansion came out in December, which caused the population to increase by 108%, or doubled, from the previous month.
Population decreases over the next few months as people finish the story and what content is available so they either take a break or log on less often.
6.1 releases in April and population jumps back up 40%.
Population stays around the same in May due to new Ultimate fight.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

You posted a screenshot as evidence and you're not even reading it correctly.

First off, you're looking at peak, and not average. It's not a 70% decrease, it's actually about half as much as it was at expansion launch, or about the same as the month before the expansion launched.
Expansion came out in December, which caused the population to increase by 108%, or doubled, from the previous month.
Population decreases over the next few months as people finish the story and what content is available so they either take a break or log on less often.
6.1 releases in April and population jumps back up 40%.
Population stays around the same in May due to new Ultimate fight.

Pretty much this.

It's just another troll topic.

[LaylaTsarra]

Wonder who's alt this is.

[NekoMataMata]

So many trolls. Last I checked the game was healthy enough that I'm still getting at least a tiny queue whenever I log in(although no where nearly as big as back when EW released).