Next FF MMO should be open-world.

[Shougun]

I think GW2 has fantastic examples of interesting world content, not sure I want to say open world as I reserve that more for WoW and Skyrim like world maps... at least how I used to see open world used was in reference to being seamless. I would be very much for improved overworld content in an open world like format. If open world ruins the ability to design highly unique zones though I would be fine with it being the way it is. Would be pretty wild to see some of the most interesting FFXIV and GW2 (crazy vertical..) in an open world.

Besides if we could somehow get a classic overworld airship map, with high airship and chocobo impact ... instances would be even more classy :3

For a large variety of reasons, without any negative meaning for FFXIV, hope the next one is more FFXVI inspired, GW2, (refence to movement, overworld attention, action oriented, etc). If done differently enough could also help justify them existing together.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Choices? Decisions? In my MMO? Too open, we here at XIV only MSQ then AFK.

Seems like a bad way to use a Sub, when there is so much more to do then MSQ.

[Iyrnthota]

I've always taken the Massive in MMORPG to refer to the population, not the map.

[RobynDaBank]

Choices? Decisions? In my MMO? Too open, we here at XIV only MSQ then AFK.

Sounds like a you problem when literally all you see is MSQ and the bench over at Limsa/Gridania.

[Toutatis]

FF14, WoW, ESO should be more accurately called MORPGs or multiplayer online RPGs. They're no longer massive compared to popular and award-winning modern open-world RPGs like Elden Ring, Assassin's Creed Odyssey (yes, it actually won a few GOTY), Skyrim, and upcoming ones like Starfield. You can fly from edge to edge on a modern FF14 map in just under two minutes today. Compare that to Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which takes 10 minutes on a ship much faster than FF14's mount. Keep in mind this does not mean Odyssey is 5 times bigger than FF14. It's 25 times bigger (you have to square it).

It’s ”massively” btw and it refers to the number of players, not the size of the areas

[UkcsAlias]

at least how I used to see open world used was in reference to being seamless

Seamless often doesnt work well if you want to effectively have far regions. Transitions cannot be made smooth, or would take at least 15 minutes of empty content to achieve (filling that space isnt going to happen). Teleportation (as the transitions are now) is a lot more efficient.

It also doesnt work well if you want to restrict players, but also support flying. It makes no sense to have an artificial wall in the air that you cant fly though, but can walk through. A physical map border while doing the same makes more sense as its an instant: this is where it ends for everything.

To me the newer regions are generaly too open or lack aetherytes for comfort. Flying for 2 minutes just because something is on the other side isnt a fun activity. Smaller zones are actualy better on that

[Ardeth]

If there is one thing this game is absolutely terrible at, it is open world content. Even when they attempt to do it better, it is a clusterbleep. Look at Eureka or Bozja zones or hunts and fates. It's all so nebulous and stale. Fates start to loop, and the exploratory zones are too mob dense. And even then, how you interact with the world is so lifeless and sterile.

[Payadopa]

Hunts have sometimes attracted over 100 people. Big FATEs such as Foxy Lady, Ixion, Archaeotania and Chi have actually attracted as much as 600 people and congested instances to the point nobody else can enter.

Hunt trains are dumb and should be discouraged. Oh it's so much fun killing an enemy in 5 seconds. People who server hop should get a debuff that takes away rewards from hunts for 30 minutes or something at the very least. It's bad design.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Only if there's something to do in the open world that's actually worth doing. Yeah, games like Skyrim have huge maps, but there's a ton of empty space that serves no purpose other than stretching the map and maybe a few random encounters. It's filler.

[VeyaAkemi]

Hunt trains are dumb and should be discouraged. Oh it's so much fun killing an enemy in 5 seconds. People who server hop should get a debuff that takes away rewards from hunts for 30 minutes or something at the very least. It's bad design.

Hunt trains are some of the most fun I've had in this game, but the fun I found fun isn't the process itself, but the community that forms around them, and shooting the shit with people in shout chat, in general I enjoy low impact, low risk gameplay in online games, stuff that drives people to coglomerate and work together, because it leads to a natural form of socialization between people who think alike, it's like venues, but more organic, without the focus on sexuality, and you are still playing the game.