Quazii breaks down his thoughts about the latest FFXIV Producer Live Letter on 18 Feb, covering graphical updates, upcoming Endwalker content and much more.
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Making everything single player compatible is brilliant because it ensures that even if the game dies in the future, people will be able to play it and get the full experience.
I think it's great they are reaching out to the demographic that has been avoiding FFXIV due to its MMO nature, because they have been missing out so badly on, IMHO, the best experience I've ever had in any form of media. I also don't think that this will have any affect on the massively multiplayer aspects of the game at all. You can force people into multiplayer content by giving them no other option, but you can't force them to enjoy it.
Yoshi-P is staying faithful to the philosophy that has brought FFXIV as far as it has come, while also extending a welcoming hand to those potential newcomers and current players who would like more options, not to mention future-proofing the game. It's accessibility done right, as rare as that is in the MMO sphere.
I can't really imagine 7.0+ supporting PS4 given it must be about 2 years off and the PS4 is so obsolete already it's really holding the game back in so many ways, they need to drop that baggage like they did PS3. Excited for more options to solo dungeon and trial as I'm one of those people that suffers massive anxiety and also doesn't have much time so wasting 15 minutes to queue for something is horrible.
I am thinking they will eventually convert all dungeons into Criterion dungeons.
This LLP could use some S. Justice input :p
My biggest concern about the graphical updates is that it kind of obscures the back end work that still needs to happen. An update to the graphics is absolutely needed, don't get me wrong, but there's still back end work on things like database management, inventories, glamour systems, housing, etc. that is going to keep hurting the game moving forward regardless of how the game looks "on the outside." Yes, I know they said we'd be getting more glamour plates and alluded to more dresser space, but even if we had 25 plates and 800 slots, it's still a limit that people are going to run into. There's still underlying problems that need to be addressed.
I think for the single/multiplayer split, I think that accommodating for both is a net GOOD thing. But what I would want to know is in terms of development time/resources, what will be the cost to accommodate for them? is it something where they have a system which they have nailed down the processes? If so, then why the heck not! And I know in ARR (as someone who has only just hit heavensward) – there are some dungeons where there is just too small a pool of players where I might be queuing for 30-60m and cannot progress the MSQ and I really just want to progress the story! So I feel pretty good about it.
are you sure u gonna still be playing in the next 10 years 😛 i got bored of it and now play lost ark and im quite happy with lost ark 🙂
I honestly think its better for everyone if FFXIV is designed with single player completion in mind. This means that very casual, non multiplayer enthusiasts can all enjoy the game, and content even within the MSQ can be more difficult. This is due to the fact that if something is hard, as someone who doesnt want challenging content they can reduce the difficulty with no fault to any party members and/or fail as much as they have to in order to succeed. There's no pressure in having to do things perfect out of not wanting to disappoint someone else.
I personally have a friend who very much enjoys FFXIV but is often very fearful of disappointing others, which keeps from further play even when well aware that little to no one acts poorly when it comes to MSQ content and most are understanding. Feeling that it's just more comfortable to be able to go through it alone. There are well enough people who feel similarly to this to warrant the feature and it would honestly help everyone in their experiences.
In the long run they'd also have more resources from stable, casual players who are content enough to simply do MSQ or light activities, and also use those extra resources to make even more for the game.
Was really hoping that island sanctuary's is going to be a version of housing, I wanted to treat housing like endgame fro me but I cant sub for months sometimes and would just get my house demolished.
I understand why people would think they are taking away the "mmo" aspect, but there are positives to this. As amazing as the roulette system is, you can see the flaws from longer tenure players. Most people I know find some of the roulettes like chores, especially MSQ roulette. Its not fun for them. This will eliminate that entirely. Now to add Trust in every MSQ dungeon will eliminate a lot of need for leveling roulette, and maybe 5-6-7-8 but I don't think it will be by much. I feel they have been waiting to get to this point for a long time and has seen the data shift enough to make these decisions.
They need to come up with new ideas to help build the foundation of the next 10 years, and do something very important, solidify and enhance the new player experience. New players are going to feel pressured to skip cutscenes or, follow the group rather than explore a dungeon – this is the truth. I've seen this many times, no matter how great the overall community boasts itself to be, this stuff happens. I made an alt on another data center to play with my friend, and when tanking/healing there have been a handful of times you run into an impatient player (for some reason, always a phys melee lol) pulling the damn boss bc they can't wait for a cutscene.
I appreciate the game devs making the decision to enhance new player experience. It is important. Also, cuts que times. It can take up to 10-15 mins for a dps to que. I support this idea. And it opens new possibilities in the future. It forces them to come up with new ideas rather rely on the system they've had in place for years now.
Omg the title of video put me in depression 😉
I used Trust system only when story suggested me to do it, in endwalker. But I leveled up all Trust from Shadowbringers and now I am doing the same for Endwalker.
It's great for learning mechanics for people with anxiety who don't want to be spoiled by watching guides.
It's cool when you really have a bad time in queque to get to a dungeon, or it's super late night.
It's nice if you could use your customized squadron mates (still love my Au Ra Squad) or some story-related characters.
If Trust AI (aoes) won't change much, then it's still Faster and more Exiciting to do it with other players.
I see only positivies, with giving people more elastic way to approach roulettes.
Also, I hope … and I don't … at the same time…. that we can glamour Ameliance xD
OMG
Island sanctuary sound more like well a place for the player can make their own and not like a farm. Like a place to explore and bring back discoveries or treasure you collect along the way
I always use trust during msq and when struggling to learn a job. Graphic upgraded is so needed as my console have upgraded ps3, ps4, ps5 I have seen the texture become more distracting. Thanx for always putting out such chill and informative content.
watching all the creators react to this stuff is great. What a great stream to showcase their commitment to the players longevity of the game.
As someone who cares just about 0 about graphics and only cares about good gameplay, it kinda hurts seeing so many content creators all say "oh yea, the most anticipated thing for me is the graphical update!"
What I'm really excited for are the many actual gameplay improvements going forward. Fixing/removing ARR MSQ roulette, Trust system expansion, potential Squadron rework, new 1-4 player dungeon system, more Deep Dungeons, Gold Saucer additions, Island Sanctuary, Hildibrand, expanding Viera and Hrothgar options, glamour system updates (really hoping we can get to a point similar to WoW where we won't even need to keep the items anymore, and we can just "learn" appearances to apply instead)
Don't get me wrong, good graphics are nice and all, but graphics mean literally nothing if gameplay gets sacrificed for it.
Hello! I think people don't need to worry about the Trust system or the single-player friendly approach. Just look at the other side of coin. With the Trust system, people are introduced gently to the mechanics of the gameplay without too much burden. People should realize that every player has there own gauge and might not adapt quickly at first specially to those who play on their own so the Trust system acts as a buffer. And when they are comfortable enough to play with others, then it would not be as shocking or difficult for them. As a person who has social anxiety as well, this means a lot (I still feel anxious but to a lesser extent now). When I was playing other MMOs, I treat them as a single player game without interacting except for NPCs. It took time before I adapted so I hope this system makes it easier for them.
As for the graphical update, I'm actually quite okay with the current ones but I know it is a huge step for others and I understand quite well so definitely looking forward to this. I haven't seen samples for Au Ra, Hrothgars and Vierra…hmm.. I look badass 😀
I agree with you that Yoshi P is trying to make the game more accessible to solo RPG players. Frankly, I almost never recommend FFXIV to anyone unless I find out first that they already have played or still play MMOs and they have yet to try FFXIV.
MMOs are gargantuan by comparison to most other games, and that can be daunting for a person who just wants to chill and play something at their own pace. Even more so for people with busy schedules. Obviously with FFXIV you can play at whatever pace you like, but it's still a monumental undertaking to enter a new genre of game with this depth of content and not be at least a little bit overwhelmed. It's honestly a brilliant move to try and capture a player base that will likely never step foot into a Party Finder, or even want to do a dungeon unless its with friends.
I'm sad that the graphical updates are 2 years out still 🙁
Criterion will be tied to relic, I guarantee it.
I think the multiplayer aspect is just what they will continue anyway and it isn't worth mentioning, there still will be raids and stuff but the single player content will come on top of it and, like you said, will give the player an option to do stuff solo. There are still plenty of people in the game who ignore trusts entirely and they will continue to do so in the future, so I don't get the people who say, Yoshi-P's plans of single player content will hurt the game :/
Some are concerned that FF14 is turing into singleplayer game. I've thought to myself how would that be possible. Online players will continue to be online players. All we are gaining are more sprouts who may break out of their shell and join online with us.