The slow decline of FFXIV, a summary.

[Supersnow845]

I am not asking a player who says 'this game is trash!' why they think that way. I'm no developer, but I can imagine no one wants to hear advice from anyone who talks like that.
If you tell me the self healing kits that all the dps and tanks have now have broken the holy trinity, and thrown off the class dependency, then I have something to understand about the pain points.

The reason these forums are so cynical is because the “useful” feedback has been screamed into the void for 5 years now and at best it gets ignored, at worst they go the opposite way

How many times have healers asked to not be useless and offered meaningful constructive improvements to their role only for square to go “so what I’m hearing is you want me to buff tanks”

[Wilford111]

It used to be that on the forums the goalpost was that player numbers are increasing.

Then last year it became that "it's still higher than Shadowbringers".

Now I guess the goalpost is "player numbers are higher than Heavensward".

Please stop own goaling lmao

I'm not goalposting anything. I never said either of your quotes.

[Supersnow845]

I'm not goalposting anything. I never said either of your quotes.

Your point was literally “DT is still higher than HW”

Like that isn’t a remote flex, that’s an admission of complete abject failure in one expansion

[Bonoki]

Anyone noticed that for some reason white knights forum start date is always either like 5 days ago or 50 years ago

Not that forum state dates mean anything (like I’m a legacy player) but has anyone ever seen a white knight who’s forum start date was like 2019

The forums have become a place where complaints go to die, while "white knights" prefer platforms where they can actively build a strong sense of social clout. X, Discord, or Reddit, ect.

When white knights do show up on the forums, it's usually not because they want to participate, but because a thread has made its way into their usual circles. Once it reaches a white knight-heavy space, they feel compelled to jump in and respond. Not because they’re invested in forum discussions but because the post triggered a reaction in their own community, and they would like to shut it down before SE pays any attention to it.

Our criticism and feedback are ruining their enjoyment of the game. At least from their perspective. They don’t see it as constructive discussion; they see it as negativity that disrupts their experience, and it's on them to become the resistance before we're heard.

[ZoeEudestand]

The forums have become a place where complaints go to die, while "white knights" prefer platforms where they can actively build a strong sense of social clout. X, Discord, or Reddit, ect.

When white knights do show up on the forums, it's usually not because they want to participate, but because a thread has made its way into their usual circles. Once it reaches a white knight-heavy space, they feel compelled to jump in and respond. Not because they’re invested in forum discussions but because the post triggered a reaction in their own community, and they would like to shut it down before SE pays any attention to it.

Our criticism and feedback are ruining their enjoyment of the game. At least from their perspective. They don’t see it as constructive discussion; they see it as negativity that disrupts their experience, and it's on them to become the resistance before we're heard.

I kneel, great response, truly. To add to that...

To multiple white knights in here that keep trying to shut down critique because for some reason they don't understand that if they want to talk about lore, meeting friends or rubbing against each other all they have to do is make another thread, not try to shut down all the other ones. Again YOU (all of you) pay for this game as a service, everyone has every right to critique the game in the pursuit of bettering things and yes sometimes that does include people who just say "game bad rn" since it brings discussion rather than censoring it all and "EVERYTHINGS FINE AND HAPPY" being shouted over the top. People being unhappy is NOT a bad thing, it's how you understand what's wrong. Wild how much some of you 'love' this game but forget what gaps in your social understanding its tried to fill in the past. Bunch of eulmoran propagandists irl.

[User202503201232]

The forums have become a place where complaints go to die, while "white knights" prefer platforms where they can actively build a strong sense of social clout. X, Discord, or Reddit, ect.

When white knights do show up on the forums, it's usually not because they want to participate, but because a thread has made its way into their usual circles. Once it reaches a white knight-heavy space, they feel compelled to jump in and respond. Not because they’re invested in forum discussions but because the post triggered a reaction in their own community, and they would like to shut it down before SE pays any attention to it.

Our criticism and feedback are ruining their enjoyment of the game. At least from their perspective. They don’t see it as constructive discussion; they see it as negativity that disrupts their experience, and it's on them to become the resistance before we're heard.

My signature is a prime example

You are complaining about the work of others but don't want to be attacked in turn?

You make me laugh, i love watching bullies get the karma sowed for their unasked for opinions when launched at the very same fan base of said game.

Share your opinion but expect the same rebuttals when you do, don't want it? Choose silence then.

Natsuko Ishikawa a Japanese writer working for Square Enix. Originally brought on as additional staff for the writing team of the relaunched Final Fantasy XIV, she has been co-lead writer for the game since its Stormblood expansion, becoming the main lead in Shadowbringers.

She received a standing ovation for her continued work in FFXIV & is beloved by the fan base & is the recipient of many accolades to include garnering awards for FFXIV being one of the most celebrated MMORPG's directly due to the writing of it's MSQ.


Masayoshi Soken video game composer and sound editor who has worked for Square Enix since 2001. Soken is best known for being the lead composer and sound director of Final Fantasy XIV and its expansions.

Actively wrote the game music for FFXIV from his hospital bed when diagnosed with cancer, has gone on to receive multitudes of awards & acclaim for much of his work.

Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi P, he's kind of a big deal not only in FF circles but also a Titan in the industry for pulling off the once believed impossible. I wont bother listing it all but there are not one but two documentaries covering his work & he gives seminars on leadership & game design among other things.

Here's the thing, you want to be nice & safe, criticizing the work of others without having it done in return.


Not the way it works, ever.

As i stated before you may share your opinion but expect the same rebuttals when you do.

The sudden explosion in popularity of this game showed what long times fans already knew, the dev team, everyone involved poured a great deal of work in to it, then it's a good thing you expected my response, i'll be happy to keep giving it.

I can take the criticism & welcome the discussion.

They unironically see criticism as bullying. It's both too funny and quite sad at the same time. Oh yes, the random MMO player making a thread on the forums is actually bullying a billion dollar company... lmao

[Saraide]

My signature is a prime example





They unironically see criticism as bullying. It's both too funny and quite sad at the same time. Oh yes, the random MMO player making a thread on the forums is actually bullying a billion dollar company... lmao

If only bullying giant companies was that easy.

[Azurarok]

reminds me, been wondering for a hot minute if the occasional necrobumping spam we've been getting lately were attempts to push some topics off the front page of this board

[KhudusQestir]

Don't worry, as long as SE has your subscription money, they'll be fine. Especially given how much engagement you drive to the forums.

This is why I cancelled my sub.

[KhudusQestir]

If only bullying giant companies was that easy.

It actually is. . . it's called stop paying.