Island Sanctuary is being discontinued?

[IvoryHawk]

I've seen 2 youtubers say it twice now that Island Sanctuary isn't being developed for in 7.x, where was this said?

[Toukichiful]

It was said a NA fan fest, that there will be a small update in 7.0 and that could be the last.

[Avoidy]

It'll still exist, but yeah outside of some extremely optimistic thinking they're basically abandoning further development of it in 7.0 as alluded to in some Q&A session, can't keep track of them all.
Saddest part is it really looked like they were laying the groundwork for genuine instanced housing. We got an enormous instanced front yard. There were housing frameworks in the system. And then they just stopped, lmao.

[Daeriion_Aeradiir]

It'll still exist, but yeah outside of some extremely optimistic thinking they're basically abandoning further development of it in 7.0 as alluded to in some Q&A session, can't keep track of them all.
Saddest part is it really looked like they were laying the groundwork for genuine instanced housing. We got an enormous instanced front yard. There were housing frameworks in the system. And then they just stopped, lmao.

To be fair, the moment I saw that datamined area the first thing that immediately came screeching to my game developer experience mind was "QA testing zone". I doubt it was ever anything more than that with players just projecting their hopes onto something it was never going to be. At the same time however, such an instanced system could be categorized entirely separated from Island Sanctuary internally & by the devs, meaning calling the actual IS itself feature complete even if that theoretical instance housing section was still being worked on would make logical sense.

As far as the topic, yes it was confirmed it would be feature complete with a small update in 7.0 in recent interviews in Famitsu & Dengeki - https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxivdiscus...ws_65_edition/

[ForteNightshade]

It'll still exist, but yeah outside of some extremely optimistic thinking they're basically abandoning further development of it in 7.0 as alluded to in some Q&A session, can't keep track of them all.
Saddest part is it really looked like they were laying the groundwork for genuine instanced housing. We got an enormous instanced front yard. There were housing frameworks in the system. And then they just stopped, lmao.

They were never going to turn it into instanced housing or anything remotely close. There's a reason all the buildings have very specific spots and only after two full years are getting the option to turn them 180 degrees. They want everything relatively static because it's significantly easier on server strain. Unfortunately, they thought for whatever reason making a sweatshop out of our "island paradise" would somehow excite players. Which has completely backfired. So they're abandoning ship and trying again with another form of lifestyle content. Can't say I'm entirely optimistic given Island Sanctuary was inspired by the dev team playing a lot of Animal Crossing. How they landed on what we got from Animal Crossing remains baffling to me.

[MAJRIS]

. Unfortunately, they thought for whatever reason making a sweatshop out of our "island paradise" would somehow excite players. Which has completely backfired. So they're abandoning ship and trying again with another form of lifestyle content. Can't say I'm entirely optimistic given Island Sanctuary was inspired by the dev team playing a lot of Animal Crossing.

That's interesting take. I don't want to waste your time but would you mind explaining why do you think it backfired?

just from my head:

I've been in my island but finding it too big with nothing around.
Zone for building is small with just pre-sets ( I don't like designs of some buildings)
If getting mats one by one means tens of thousands of clicking on the same stone to mine it, it does not excite me at all. (Even mobile mining games have upgrades like +1 yield or like +10% chance of getting X more.)
No idea how is the island instance related to server strain. Does it run on same instance server shard as something else? what are the possible issues/implications with too much of the island content?

if they will not keep expanding it with more minions or rewards from dawntrail like alternative way to get glamours, or minions, or furniture, then it's a little bit sad. Reminds me world of warcraft holiday events. They havent been updated for ages since 2015 and people wonder and complain why the queue times are too long.

[Raven2014]

That's interesting take. I don't want to waste your time but would you mind explaining why do you think it backfired?

I said something like this when it first came out: IS feels like something that was conceptualized by an environmentalist or therapist, but the execution is given to an oil baron. Like ... I feels it boggles the mind how almost 180 contradicting the original concept was to what we actually have. And I know I wasn't the only one thinking like that.


It was supposed to be our "get away", a "natural paradise". Like, I know the "quests" we get on each update (whenever an NPC come to visit) try to "push" that idea really hard into us, trying to make us believe it's "our private resort" but not for a single moment I feel that way. We're 100% just a manager running Tataru's network of sweatshop, that's it.

- There is literally nothing we build that is for us.
- They are all accommodation built for the slaves ... eh I mean a bunch of sassy mammets.
- We're given a pristine, untouched piece of nature. And we proceed to strip mining, deforestation and deface the landscape for profit, and with a smile when we're doing it.

Seriously, in all of my 10 years of playing this game, IS is probably the most confused piece of content I think I've seen like. Don't get me wrong, I think the technical aspect is fine, in term of effort/reward and such. It's just ... at least I would make sense had our venture is something like building a natural reserve, or R&R resort, or a dwelling. But a full blow industrial area ... like ... wtf!?!?

I'm glad to hear they gonna stop putting in resource in IS. Like don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind if they revisit this content again, but next time I hope the implementation will be somewhat consistent which what is on the label.

[sindriiisgaming]

It'll still exist, but yeah outside of some extremely optimistic thinking they're basically abandoning further development of it in 7.0 as alluded to in some Q&A session, can't keep track of them all.
Saddest part is it really looked like they were laying the groundwork for genuine instanced housing. We got an enormous instanced front yard. There were housing frameworks in the system. And then they just stopped, lmao.

theyre never gona do instanced housing. they wont be able to keep you subbed if they do. if it is instanced itl have a demo on it too

[Boblawblah]

theyre never gona do instanced housing. they wont be able to keep you subbed if they do. if it is instanced itl have a demo on it too

At least then, they would reveal their motivations. With the system how it is now, there is an argument that there absolutely needs to be a demo system, otherwise new players would never get a house.

[Toutatis]

theyre never gona do instanced housing. they wont be able to keep you subbed if they do. if it is instanced itl have a demo on it too

I am convinced that the number of players who stay subbed just because of a useless pixel house is a small minority and it is immaterial when it comes to revenue. Definitely not the “cash cow” some people want to make believe.

When I tire of this game I won’t give a damn of what happens to my houses. I have already let go 2/4 (one personal and 1 fc). They demolish because of the stupid finite system that they have so new and active players have a chance at getting one.