Is it time to Sunset FFXIV?

[NOODS]

They can do all the changes gameplay wise, add other way to gear yourself, add new zones, etc... if they don't add content with longevity, it's gonna get worse, people will continue to leave once the novelty will fade. That's the one thing they have to acknowledge, the number one FFXIV problem before the story the job balance the pvp problems,... is the lack of new engagement content with shelf life.

I think one of the biggest problems is just the lack of variety in terms of how to get gear, levels, and items. Content released in a certain expansion (Eureka, Bozja, Island Sanctuary) only contains items relevant to that expansion and never gets updated to match current expansions, alternatively there's no way to really use old content gear or weapons besides desynthesizing it and selling it on the MB. Other MMO's and other games allow you to level and get better gear through various ways and give you the option to trade in old gear for currencies/items that you can use to claim glamours, titles, customization options, and even gear that's better than what you have.

The reason there's no longevity in the game is that old content has no reason to exist beyond being an interesting change of pace once in a while. For example; if Bozja wasn't the most efficient way to level from 71-89, I doubt it'd be populated as much as it is now. Adding to that, for me personally, if they added Rival Wings to the roulette and had it get populated frequently, I'd be playing it multiple times a day just for fun.

[KernCadfan]

It really does come down to the fact they need to really focus on long-standing quality-of-life solutions... slightly grindy group based open world content, an alternate end game progression system, and a numbers update to account for the raw sizes of Cross World Linkshells, and better communication and networking abilities in-game. Less of an emphasis on cash-shop items that would be very suited to actualized in-game side quests that provide the goal for those who want it...

FFXIV has already reached its sunset. Endwalker is over and done with, the original plot that carried us through 10 years of content is over, and Dawntrail is the new coat of paint... and it's a very nice coat of paint in a lot of ways, but it really comes down to the fact players need more options when it comes to things to do that add longevity to the game in its current iteration, and not relying on old and forgotten expansions...

For example, if a progression system unlocked at max level that allowed you to add stat bonuses to your character that was aimed directly at the casual player base... well now we have a reason to keep working on our character outside of casual raid-logging... what about Grand Companies? Why haven't they been expanded...

In point of fact, this is a new side of Eorzea, so give us new grand company options for this new adventure... our loyal Dawn servants have traveled far and wide, have they not? That's good enough in-game lore to believe some sort of military is required for the protection of the peoples fiven the MSQ. In the same way Grand Companies operate, it would stand to reason Wuk and company would see the value in that. So, give us a new and improved flavor of what grand Companies would look like when newly establishing. give us a whole side quest involving networking with new fan favorite characters. Wuk wasn't hugely well received, but let's not forget our boy Bakool Ja Ja and others like him. Culture was such a main focus in Dawn trail that we should be building on that by actually taking the story and working in mechanics and gameplay that reinforces the long and rambling story of dawn trail's MSQ in a way that validates it beyond the story itself.

Given that this is supposed to be a new story entirely, that's perhaps my largest gripe. We spent so much time building up the lore, but at the end of that lore there is nothing but the raids... validate the lore... I actually liked the lore, and I liked the journey... but Wuk and Koan are the dawn servants now. It's about time we do what we're good at doing as the Warrior of Light: adventuring, meeting new faces, and steeping ourselves in wider world political nuances and fighting off big-baddies...

[Sililos]

Fact is, SE need to invest money in this game instead of stripping it to pay their endlessly greedy Shareholders or to pay for other projects.

The team have run on a template for as long as i can remember.
Patch releases, it has 1 dungeon, 1 Trial, 1 AR or Norm.
SE feel too 'safe' with this min effort patch cycle and dont really innovate as a result.

As more money is stripped from the game, we will see longer times between patches and more bland content unfortunately.
I hope SE can tell the leeches no for once and start investing money where its needed rather than draining the golden goose dry.

[Hallarem]

Sadly the goodwill is bleeding dry. You can see it in party finders, the empty world (not that theres anything to do there aside from fates and hunts).

But they will only look at sub count, because money is all that matters to the company. The ingerity is not there. The bare minimum is more than clear from the patch cycles and formula.

And people wont unsub for a while, because their communities/friends are in the game world. Defenders and SE will use this as "but lol the metrics are there, everyone loves the game cause they havent unsubbed, the forums are a minority."

So yeh.. I used to log everyday, now I log like.. two - three times a week?

[Sensui]

Sadly the goodwill is bleeding dry. You can see it in party finders, the empty world (not that theres anything to do there aside from fates and hunts).

But they will only look at sub count, because money is all that matters to the company. The ingerity is not there. The bare minimum is more than clear from the patch cycles and formula.

And people wont unsub for a while, because their communities/friends are in the game world. Defenders and SE will use this as "but lol the metrics are there, everyone loves the game cause they havent unsubbed, the forums are a minority."

So yeh.. I used to log everyday, now I log like.. two - three times a week?

Yep. I logged in once last week for about 15 minutes. Didn't do a single roulette or anything. Just grabbed Gil off a housing board. Looked at PF then logged out.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Another one of these threads. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

[KernCadfan]

You know... maybe it is time to begin to sunset the game... but not if there won't be another MMORPG. I'd rather have a lack-luster FFXIV than no MMORPG to play at all. This game means a lot to me, so it pains me to think it may be time to slowly let this one fade, much like ffxi did... I will still play it for many years to come, provided the servers are operational. That being said though, this game is old, and only getting older. With no active open world content, or side progression system, the deeply invested player base is slowly starting fizzle out... those of us around for FFXI knows what I'm talking about... it didn't kill the game when it reached its sunset...

But it did bring upon a new normal in gaming, and a new era... final fantasy MMORPG's are rife with bumps and bruises. They're categorically flawed, but they're special. I can equally agree that maybe it is time to let it slowly fade, while also clinging onto a game that gave me my family. I say that honestly. My longest lived friends of twenty years or more came from FFXI, and together we came to FFXIV... and we will stay.

Unless there's a new game on the horizon, I just don't see myself leaving, even if it means accepting an era of what I believe to be meritocracy.

[Jeeqbit]

it pains me to think it may be time to slowly let this one fade

It would be absolutely crazy to "let this one fade" at its peak. There are many more active players than in HW or most of SHB, for example, both the most well-received expansions we had.

With no active open world content

It's fine to say that the open world content is not good enough, but to say there is no active open world content at all is untrue - people do hunts, fates, maps and gathering regularly and this content has grinds.

the deeply invested player base is slowly starting fizzle out...

See, I'm not particularly saying that the "invested players" aren't quitting or taking extended breaks. I'm just saying the statistics overall remain high, even if that is just sprouts/casuals/returners/veterans returning briefly for a few days.

[Supersnow845]

It would be absolutely crazy to "let this one fade" at its peak. There are many more active players than in HW or most of SHB, for example, both the most well-received expansions we had.
It's fine to say that the open world content is not good enough, but to say there is no active open world content at all is untrue - people do hunts, fates, maps and gathering regularly and this content has grinds.
See, I'm not particularly saying that the "invested players" aren't quitting or taking extended breaks. I'm just saying the statistics overall remain high, even if that is just sprouts/casuals/returners/veterans returning briefly for a few days.

I say this in the nicest way possible but please please please learn the difference between pointed hyperbole and and regular statements

That person was in no way saying there is absolutely zero open world content, they are obviously saying there is no open world content of value to anyone who is invested in the game and nobody besides you thinks that killing 10,000 A ranks is actually content