Um.. summer release?

[Abriael]

Before someone actually naively believes the enormous lie by the OP, let me officially state something as the news editor of one of the news outlets that was authorized to release a preview of the beta of A Realm Reborn (this one to be precise).

We signed absolutely no contract about anything (the only thing we had to agree to was the NDA, which was exactly the same used for every other beta tester, and I mean literally the same: same site and all). There was absolutely zero pressure from Square Enix to give FFXIV a positive preview, or "to not give honest feedback about FFXIV".

The only restriction received from the publisher was to use the screenshots provided on the press kit (which is common practice for early betas). Nothing else was restricted, recommended or even mentioned.

As a matter of fact the mail we received was a very brief communication that basically amounted to "The press embargo about phase 1 and 2 falls from this date and time, please use the provided screenshots".

It was actually so lacking in detail that I had to mail back asking if was really ok for me to write a full preview (didn't really expect the embargo to go down that early), and no further guidance or recommendation of any sort was provided.

In conclusion: the OP's point is entirely false and misleading.

He's probably mad that his personal feedback hasn't been addressed and he's doing the usual misguided equation that since his feedback hasn't been considered everyone's feedback isn't. It's rather obvious that Square Enix can't implement all the feedback they receive, including conflicting matter-of-taste suggestions. This doesn't mean they don't consider any or that they don't listen to it all.