Outside FFXIV itself: Merchandising, Events, Collabs and their availability

[Hallarem]

I'm starting to feel like the devs are bitter about FFXIV or the head honchos are, and just want to use it as a cash cow. I know it sounds unhinged, but I just don't feel the love from them for making this game better. There's just way too many QoL improvements they could make, but just refuse to dedicate teams or people to do so.

IMPROVE YOUR MAIN GAME, your main cash driver. Better a bird in hand (FFXIV) than ten in the bush (all your failed projects) Maybe your merch might sell better too, and we might get something better out of you than god awful FF7 remake after remake after rehash after re-imagining, after movie, after spinoff. Stuff like Octopath 2, that seemed to be made with actual passion. And not relying on memberberries and FF7's former success. There are other Final Fantasies too. Hell even FFXIV relies WAY too much on memberberries from older Final Fantasies, sometimes the "references" are just blatant rip offs, down to plotlines in the MSQ

[CCheshire]

For some reason, SE is also really into selling game-inspired silver jewelry and random accessories for its other big franchises. Honestly, the only thing missing is a LE emote code with that $400 single earring to match the recent $400 figure sold a few years ago. Also, I def have seen folks with the expensive emotes in LL, so they know their audience with disposable cash is out there.

Also, I recall reading they sell like FFXIV stickers, cups, incense, fridge magnets, PJs, small desk ornaments, and some standees, which are more affordable except for the high shipping rate they have for the official SE stores. If you're in the USA, BigBadToyStore always opens a PO for them, but they're up there in prices even for game merch. Ofc I wouldn't mind like Nendo or even PUPs of the cast, but SE rarely allows outsiders to license their series too, and their line is super expensive for below-average quality figures.

For t-shirts, they did a collab w/Uniqlo a few years ago that sold out in a few hours and never restocked in the USA, if that counts?

[Arohk]

They dont want to admit no one cares about their other Final Fantasy titles. They want those other titles to succeed sooooooooooo baaaaaaaaad

If they want a sucessful NEW FF game, maybe they should let fromsoftware make a FF themed game.

[PercibelTheren]

It's whale hunting.

[YovelaLindswood]

For some reason, SE is also really into selling game-inspired silver jewelry and random accessories for its other big franchises. Honestly, the only thing missing is a LE emote code with that $400 single earring to match the recent $400 figure sold a few years ago. Also, I def have seen folks with the expensive emotes in LL, so they know their audience with disposable cash is out there.

Also, I recall reading they sell like FFXIV stickers, cups, incense, fridge magnets, PJs, small desk ornaments, and some standees, which are more affordable except for the high shipping rate they have for the official SE stores. If you're in the USA, BigBadToyStore always opens a PO for them, but they're up there in prices even for game merch. Ofc I wouldn't mind like Nendo or even PUPs of the cast, but SE rarely allows outsiders to license their series too, and their line is super expensive for below-average quality figures.

For t-shirts, they did a collab w/Uniqlo a few years ago that sold out in a few hours and never restocked in the USA, if that counts?

SE always uses fomo and ingame vanity to overprice the crap out of their cheap items. Like the only reason the statues sold anywhere near as well as they did is because people wanted the ingame emote to flex their wealth.

[Johners]

The price of merchandise isn't unique to Square Enix or even the video game industry, it's a middle earners money pit in all hobbies. Bonus points if you get an in-game reward for buying the physical item. Attending events such as Fan Fest or a Premier League football match are the same, doubly so if you need to travel far or stay at a hotel overnight.

[SkankyRoe]

If they want a sucessful NEW FF game, maybe they should let fromsoftware make a FF themed game.

Ew no keep that Soulsborne shit far away from FF.

[Hallarem]

Square Enix is hilariously bad at merchandising. I've mentioned this in surveys they've sent out over the past few years because I like collecting little doodads and supporting the game. Aside from job pins and magnets, most of the affordable merchandise is basically Japan only. They come out with lower cost items for claw machines and gachapon, which aren't entirely inaccessible but are a pain to get if you don't know how to find it. They have such hugely popular IPs that they could be earning money out the wazoo (see the MTG collab doing gangbusters) and despite owning a toy production company (Taito) they just... don't.

It's a problem with the company as a whole and one they've left mostly unaddressed for years.

Kinda follows with the 14 side of the company. Maybe its just company policy to be unbending, uninnovative and doubling down on not earning money. Like swallowing Sony for exclusives and doing console. When shutting down pc releases loses them money on that first wave of interest.

Not a really good start for the new CEO