This is a genuine question. I really want to know what you guys are looking forward to and why. Aside from new instances like Dungeons and the MSQ, that's a given they'll be added.

Keep in mind, I'm not trying to star a flame war, but it's clear from my PoV that ever since SB things have been going downhill what with the slow removal of content and lazy simplification and sanitation of things that no one asked for, for the sake of making the developers job easier instead of our time playing more meaningful or more fun.

Given interviews, the current dev team seems to think things are just fine. I was hoping for a shakeup, since it's the "first chapter" for the next ten years, but no.

Off the cuff:
  • This is despite the horrible class design choices.
  • Despite the fact that there's less content than ever.
  • Despite the fact that the cash shop gets more and more bloated.
  • Despite the fact that artifact weapons are in their worst state ever.
  • Despite the fact that new content is generally weak.
  • Despite the stale raid mechanics.
  • Despite uptime being a meme.
  • Despite despite the fact that MSQ patches are the weakest story we've ever gotten.
  • Despite the fact that the trial series have been cut and just made a part of MSQ.
  • Despite every single person on the planet hating the 2m timer classes.
  • Despite the constant negative feedback and fan outcry from healers to SAM being IGNORED.
etc, etc, etc.

Even with all of this, I figured, MSQ might still be worth subbing for and doing for a while. Except Ishikawa, FFXIV's most profilic and IMO most impactful writer, is gone and sorely missing.

So what's left? I'm not looking forward to more dumbing down, I'm not looking forwards to more 6.X patch type of MSQ, I'm not looking forward to seeing the budget spent on a ton of more voiced content with famous seiyuus and intricate food animations or "haha fanservice" moments transparently made with the intent to go viral on social media.

So what are you looking forward to? What are your hopes, and are they realistic?

(1/2)