Quote Originally Posted by ReynTime View Post
I wonder about this. Player activity is still pretty high in lieu of everyone doing the new raid. It might fizzle soon. But if it doesn't... What kind of message would Creative Studio (guys they're not "CBU" anymore) 3 get from it? That the quality of the MSQ is irrelevant for player retention?

I'm very curious if this might end up being the conclusion.
That... is actually a very good question. I do know the Steam concurrent player metric (I'm very aware it's flawed, but using as an indicator) was temporarily at its highest ever, but we also have seen a mass increase of RMT botting which would artificially spike that number. It certainly seems to me like there are more players than usual despite that:

But I'm also seeing an explosion of players fed up with the material. Be it from the loot treadmill beginning to feel boring and flawed, savages being too easy/hard (take your pick, varies per person), to people just being kind of done with the formulaic releases. I would personally think MSQ is relevant given how much people rave about it and always have (I've never actually enjoyed the story, but haven't hated it until DT.) But I suppose only time will tell. What I can tell is that I'm certain they will see less sales in the sense of trying to item shop anything from DT's MSQ, but ... to your point that may be the limit of what causes them to care about that in relation to money.

I do, personally, think they are about to take a kick in the money and Square Enix is not doing well financially to take such a kick to one of their primary monetary generators. Well, let me rephrase, the stock markets in Japan tell me they will get kicked in the money, but I do think a good portion of that is going to relate back to DT: But I have no evidence of that it's just my personal prediction.

Also, good call on CBU3->CS3. I was ignorant of this, I appreciate the correction.