Very limited content at ARR launch :( ?

[Churchill]

For a top heavy MMO, not having anything to do at launch may be a very big problem.

We'll have to see if any other tidbits are announced, but as it stands (and none of this information about crystal tower/ companies being new) if AV/CC and potentially primals and relics are all there is to do come 2.0 launch, we've essentially been doing the same content for a year at that point with nothing new. Not to mention, 2 dungeons, a poorly designed quest (via hamlet) and 1 primal are not really enough to sustain end game activity for 6 months, let alone a year.

[Felis]

We'll have to see if any other tidbits are announced, but as it stands (and none of this information about crystal tower/ companies being new) if AV/CC and potentially primals and relics are all there is to do come 2.0 launch, we've essentially been doing the same content for a year at that point with nothing new.

Not if you are a new player.
There is new content coming at start, but most stuff would be for new players. Because the game need at first low level and mid level content that bind the new players. If they don't have something to do except to level they leave the game again before they reach the end level.

[Ramsey]

What will really be important to know is whether or not by launch he means when existing players get their hands on 2.0 live or when the new box ships for PS3 and PC.

If it's the former, that's not a big deal, it actually is more concerning if it's when the box ships, but most of the new players would not be investing in content like the Crystal Tower right away anyway. How long it takes them is the real question.

[AlaulaTheGreat]

ARR! Ye want all de booty on dah first lot, eh?!
Ye jus' gonna hafta wait matey!

[Ramsey]

Free companies is actually a very big deal, even for newer players. I hope they put a lot of resources into getting that out ASAP, the other stuff can wait a few months.

[Cynthis]

Free companies is actually a very big deal, even for newer players. I hope they put a lot of resources into getting that out ASAP, the other stuff can wait a few months.

Agreed. If the game is released without free companies and PvP and housing to be honest, not because new players will be doing it from day one but just seeing that it is not there might drive a lot of people away atfer just concluding the game is nowhere near ready...and they'd be right about that even though I personally loathe PvP

[A5ko]

Seeing as the beta is supposed to start this year, it just doesn't seem feasible that all of the content promised could be finished in time for release.

As long as the game is good, I would be prepared to wait because this content is exciting. My only concern is the players new to FF. They may not be prepared to wait as long.

[Taika]

Where was all this new stuff promised at release?

All I could find from the outline was this (emphasis mine):

Below are the main content additions planned for after version 2.0. New content announcements will be made via patch notes.

New primal battles.

Summoning system that awards the ability to summon primals to Free Companies that defeat them.

Campaign of battles against the dragon horde in the defense of Ishgard, with participation possible as any of the four Disciplines.

Two forms of PvP, the Coliseum and the Frontlines, to be released sequentially.
Large-scale instanced raids of the Crystal Tower and a vast labyrinth. Further expansions planned for future patches.

Wandering Odin primal, who grows in strength and drops greater treasures with each defeat.

Further details on all of the above to be released in the days leading up to version 2.0 release.

Two new dungeons to be added in patch 1.21. More dungeons to follow after version 2.0.

Release of treasure maps to be discoverable by Disciples of the Land. Planned for after version 2.0.

Maps to reveal location of chests and dungeons. Dungeons to be new content designed for a combination of classes from all Disciplines. Planned for after version 2.0.

Two PvP venues, Coliseum and Frontlines, to be released after version 2.0.

Unique zones to be created so as not to affect non-participating players. Release of PvP-specific abilities, gear, and ranking.

Support for multi-party alliances for large-scale content to be released together with the above.

Future plans include chocobo gear, rearing, battle, mounted content, and shared chocobos, to be released sequentially after version 2.0.

Release of a content finder system after version 2.0.

What was planned for 2.0 release is this:

Complete redesign of character creation screens and process.

Addition of Miqo'te males, Highland Hyur and Roegadyn females for version 2.0.

Complete redesign of user interface for version 2.0 currently underway

Complete redesign of markets into a system incorporating retainers and auction house elements. Planned for version 2.0.

Release of a delivery system and mail system for version 2.0.

Redesign of all non-instanced areas for version 2.0.

The only controversial things I could find from the outline given and the newest information received were two things:

1. Free companies were in fact planned for launch:

Release of in-game player communities known as Free Companies. Planned for version 2.0.

2. Arcanist / Summoner wasn't:

New summoning ability available to certain jobs and classes after version 2.0.

New taming ability available to certain jobs and classes after version 2.0.

[Gokulo]

Well, we still don't know if summoner will be there for release.

[bobbygunz]

At OP: What did you really expect? "Roaming primals" are also instanced lol.

SE generally disappoint on their promises