Next FF MMO should be open-world.

[Vatom]

We will see

[Quintessa]

The game is open world, what you want is for everything content related to not be tied to some instance.

[kaynide]

I agree with OP to an extent; the overworld needs more stuff to do in it. Activities/“life”. Even if it’s just NPCs moving around transporting stuff.

Guildwars 2 is fantastic at this with Mariokart style races, jumping puzzles, mini games etc that pop up similar to fates. They even have a few pilot-wings-esque courses you can do.

For all the “meh” in GW2 story/job balance, the actual world/physics were always a joy to goof around in.

[Absurdity]

I agree with OP to an extent; the overworld needs more stuff to do in it. Activities/“life”. Even if it’s just NPCs moving around transporting stuff.

Guildwars 2 is fantastic at this with Mariokart style races, jumping puzzles, mini games etc that pop up similar to fates. They even have a few pilot-wings-esque courses you can do.

For all the “meh” in GW2 story/job balance, the actual world/physics were always a joy to goof around in.

Since I've recently picked GW2 up again after 10 years it's still rather fresh in my mind. It's not just the activities on the map, it's their layout. Sure the core game has a lot of open fields but later on you get winding and narrow pathways with bottomless pits to the sides, maze-like jungles, lots of verticality, etc.

Another big difference is that the world is actually alive and dangerous. Where XIV's "open world" is basically just a cakewalk with enemies that auto attack 95% of the time, GW2's basic enemies are comparatively dangerous and can do a lot of the things that the player can. They dodge attacks, inflict debuffs like slow and stun, throw around aoe fields and some of them can kill you just as fast as you can kill them...or you stand in the wrong spot and get knocked off a cliff.

It makes exploring feel more like an adventure, besides the zones offering rewards you might want, since you can't just steamroll through the map.

It's a testament to the design that zones from 2015 are still alive with players to this day.

[fulminating]

I like arr, there's no story gates - if you want you can run out from ul dah through mor dhona, coerthas and north shroud to get to gridania. If you've got an fc house in the mists you can even explore la noscea all before turning in the second main quest if wanted. It'd be nice if the boats operated before that level 15 quest but I'm sure there was some reason for it.

[Elucesta]

I agree, I've always said this. It feels too "sterile".

[DiaDeem]

Gonna be honest: I'm kinda tired of Open World games. Everyone's like: "But you can do whatever you want" and what I want is to have a clear objective. Even in a game such as amazing as Elden Ring, by NG+ you're probably just running from major boss to major boss because what else are you gonna find? Some cave with a mini boss you'll one shot and give you a trash drop anyway. Same for BotW... exploration was really fun for a while, until you realize that at the end of every exploration journey all you'll find is yet another Shrine. And those are like two of the best modern examples of open world games. They have all these beautiful vistas and then you have to spend 5 days just getting anywhere back and forth over and over, and then there's like nothing to really find around other than crafting materials. I'm all up for removing loading zone lines, but please: Not another pointlessly gigantic open empty world...

[Jeeqbit]

Gonna be honest: I'm kinda tired of Open World games. Everyone's like: "But you can do whatever you want" and what I want is to have a clear objective.

I always wanted an Open World game until I actually played one.

My experience in that game was entirely different to my friend's. I didn't want to experience what I was experiencing. I wanted to experience what my friend was experiencing. FOMO was affecting me (fear of missing out). So I quit the game.

And that is why open world games don't work and why it has to be linear like in FFXIV.

[R041]

I always wanted an Open World game until I actually played one.

My experience in that game was entirely different to my friend's. I didn't want to experience what I was experiencing. I wanted to experience what my friend was experiencing. FOMO was affecting me (fear of missing out). So I quit the game.

And that is why open world games don't work and why it has to be linear like in FFXIV.

How do I downvote people?

It wasn't always super linear. This is why we have linear ass dungeons, and everything is on rails now. 'Cause of the crying babies.

Everyone cries about FOMO, when they should experience new stuff, because it's an MMO in a living virtual world. Not everything needs to be experienced the same way by every person.

Gonna be honest: I'm kinda tired of Open World games. Everyone's like: "But you can do whatever you want" and what I want is to have a clear objective.

Congratulations, your objective now is to finish MSQ, then AFK in Limsa.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Congratulations, your objective now is to finish MSQ, then AFK in Limsa.

Why AFK in Limsa, instead of playing the game?
Your advising them to Not Play the game after MSQ, when they want something to motivate them to play the game, an Objective.
Why not suggest something that involves playing the game after MSQ?