2026 FanFests

[Jeeqbit]

If it's truly a one-year period from 7.5 to 8.0, we can now understand why the Ultimate is releasing in 2026. I'll be pleasantly surprised if we don't drop to Stormblood numbers this expansion. It used to be 5 months, maybe 6...

I think the numbers will get lower (possibly misrepresented a bit this time round due to the Free Login campaign). Probably really, really, really low.

But when 8.0 finally releases, I think everyone will just return to the game again and do it despite everything they said about quitting etc. Even if they quit immediately after finishing the MSQ. That happened with Dawntrail after all despite resentment towards Endwalker content and patch story.

They may get more for 8.0 if the trailer is actually something super cool and interesting like Shadowbringers was.

That's my prediction, not being positive or negative, I just think that people always talk about quitting but then they peak in at expansion launch anyways even if they quit right after.

[brinn12]

I think the numbers will get lower (possibly misrepresented a bit this time round due to the Free Login campaign). Probably really, really, really low.

But when 8.0 finally releases, I think everyone will just return to the game again and do it despite everything they said about quitting etc. Even if they quit immediately after finishing the MSQ. That happened with Dawntrail after all despite resentment towards Endwalker content and patch story.

They may get more for 8.0 if the trailer is actually something super cool and interesting like Shadowbringers was.

That's my prediction, not being positive or negative, I just think that people always talk about quitting but then they peak in at expansion launch anyways even if they quit right after.

The difference is that Endwalker's lows were still decent. We're not even halfway through Dawntrail, and the Steam charts have already hit a monthly low not seen since late 2020. Luckybancho also noted that FFXIV lost active players during a period when those numbers had always gone up in past expansions. We can't expect people to keep coming back forever.

[Jeeqbit]

The difference is that Endwalker's lows were still decent. We're not even halfway through Dawntrail, and the Steam charts have already hit a monthly low not seen since late 2020. Luckybancho also noted that FFXIV lost active players during a period when those numbers had always gone up in past expansions. We can't expect people to keep coming back forever.

I agree with all that and some people won't come back, but overall, I think that a lot of people who quit just end up returning eventually anyway because SE has their email address to remind them of patches and free login campaigns. I also just meet people in the game or even see people on the forums who "quit" but they couldn't help themselves but to eventually come back eventually, at least for a month.

Also we have an example with WoW where no matter how much people "quit" and doomed on the game for years, they kept coming back due to sunk cost or some other reason, especially at expansion launches.

[Turtledeluxe]

People often conflate DT's current losses with Endwalker even though Endwalker is in the past, as in we have that data over a much longer period. DT is still not done, not even close, and has more losses to incur. Its unclear just how much damage it will do overall and what the new peak could be. With the time they are taking for 8.0, it will need to HIT and not seem like maintenance mode.

[Masekase_Hurricane]

People often conflate DT's current losses with Endwalker even though Endwalker is in the past, as in we have that data over a much longer period. DT is still not done, not even close, and has more losses to incur. Its unclear just how much damage it will do overall and what the new peak could be. With the time they are taking for 8.0, it will need to HIT and not seem like maintenance mode.

Yes if it was later i,e .4 the drop off would make sense but not this early into the expansion.

[ItsKylos]

"(And one more thing: for those wondering what comes after the Japan Fan Fest...while I can't give any details just yet, rest assured you won't have to wait long.)"

It's in the new lodestone regarding the use of mods. He left it as an extra note. Here's the link, it's at the end:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...5eb456d2183251

[Wyssahtyn]

"(And one more thing: for those wondering what comes after the Japan Fan Fest...while I can't give any details just yet, rest assured you won't have to wait long.)"

It's in the new lodestone regarding the use of mods. He left it as an extra note. Here's the link, it's at the end:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...5eb456d2183251

believe it when something concrete actually comes out lol. don't listen to ondore's lies.

[Aniya_Estlihn]

"(And one more thing: for those wondering what comes after the Japan Fan Fest...while I can't give any details just yet, rest assured you won't have to wait long.)"

It's in the new lodestone regarding the use of mods. He left it as an extra note. Here's the link, it's at the end:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...5eb456d2183251

The Japanese is more blunt and says "that" will be released shortly after JP FanFest.
That, obviously, being the expansion.

[Vitallian]

My thought process is "surely it has to be something big then...right?". I've other other games to keep me occupied, so it isn't a big thing on my part. But geez.

[justausername]

I'm intrigued by that added note on that post... very cautiously optimistic that maybe it wont be a 6month gap after the last FF?