I was looking through old expansions and how they handled the credits and what they showed after them (so 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and now Dawntrail).
And Dawntrails approach to the credits is weird to be honest.
Let me make it a little more clear:
All expansions did show some cutscene relating to the raid content coming up. Alexander, Omega, Eden, Pandaemonium and Arcadion.
Besides Dawntrail and Endwalker they had an additional cutscene either relating to the overarching narrative (Ascians or Garlemald) or a follow up on the current story.
Heavensward had Elidibus on the moon with the warriors of darkness.
Stormblood had Lyse saying goodbye to the Scions, Yotsuyu and Gosetsu and Garlemald (Varis and Elidibus).
Shadowbringers had Elidibus mourning on the moon and the situation in Garlemald with the murder on Varis.
Endwalker and Dawntrail both show the raid, but Endwalker shows the Scions farewell and Dawntrail looking at the new key we got.
For Endwalker it makes sense to me, because the writers wanted to do a fresh start and a clean cut after 6.0. But why does Dawntrail does not at least have a follow up on its main narrative (either Solution Nine situation or Tural)?
It makes sense to have no overarching narrative being touched upon, because Dawntrail did not introduce a new one, but not following up on its current scenario?
Are they trying new way of storytelling? Because I liked pondering how the story continued based on the new breadcrumps we usually had after the credits.
You could argue with the key, but the key is no threat to the status quo. It is no known or unknown party. No one is scheming or doing anything outside the Scions reach after the credits. There is no surprise at the end.
Or is Dawntrail really an AB test, where Square wants to hold their cards close at hand and only show story bits after they know after our reception of the current one?
I am honestly confused about this new way of story telling, because as stated, I liked the old one more.