I keep seeing the same doomposts about Final Fantasy XIV every patch cycle — “no QoL updates in 10 years, technical debt, Dawntrail flopped, PF is dead, game is bleeding players” blah blah. And honestly? I don’t buy it.
Because here’s the thing: over 95% of players aren’t content creators or streamers. We don’t rely on FFXIV to pay our bills or generate endless YouTube content. Most of us log in after work, do some story, farm glams, work on relics, run deep dungeons, or just hang out in Limsa. And for that majority, the game is still great.
QoL and UI
Saying nothing has changed in a decade is wild. ARR dungeons all have Duty Support now, ARR zones have flying, the glam dresser keeps getting bigger, we got chat bubbles. Sure, it’s not as flashy as some other MMOs, but the game feels smoother today than even in Shadowbringers.
The Mobile Game FOMO
Yeah, the mobile version has fancy dyes and tweaks. Cool. But it’s basically a separate project — if features cross over, awesome. If not, I’m not about to throw away a decade of mounts, glams, and progress just because a side project looks shiny.
DC Travel & PF
Party Finder isn’t dead — people just flock to Aether. That’s a community choice, not proof the system is broken. And honestly, being able to hop DCs and play with friends I couldn’t touch before? That’s still a huge win.
Technical Debt
Yes, the engine’s old. And yet we got cross-DC travel, flying in ARR zones, a full graphics overhaul, and Duty Support everywhere. Innovation is happening — just carefully, so the whole thing doesn’t explode.
Dawntrail MSQ
I had fun. It’s not Shadowbringers, but it’s Act 1 of a new saga. It’s setting the stage. Stormblood had pacing issues too, and then Shadowbringers blew us away. I’m willing to give it time.
Roadmap
People say “no roadmap” because SE doesn’t post big graphics. But I know what’s coming: 4-month patches, new raids, new dungeons, new relics, and an expansion every ~2 years. That’s the most consistent MMO schedule out there.
Player Numbers
The COVID/WoW boom was never going to last. But even after the dip, the game’s still way bigger than pre-Shadowbringers and servers are lively. That’s not “dead,” that’s stable.
New Player Experience
ARR is still long, sure, but it’s been trimmed, reworked, and now fully soloable with Duty Support. The Free Trial alone is absurd value: three full RPGs worth of content for free. If someone can’t get hooked on that, MMOs probably aren’t for them.
8.0 Do or Die?
ARR 2.0 was born from a total failure. That’s not today’s situation. FFXIV in 2025 is profitable, healthy, and growing to new platforms like Xbox. 8.0 doesn’t need to nuke it all — it just needs to build on what’s already working.
Patch Cycles
Four months between patches is fine. I’d rather log in, do new stuff at my pace, and then play something else, than be chained to a daily treadmill. “Take a break” is good design, not bad.
Veteran vs. New Player
If you’re burnt out, cool — take a break. But don’t confuse your burnout with proof the game’s dying. Plenty of us are still happily grinding relics, farming glams, and decorating houses.
Resources & The Future
Square Enix has already pumped money into new DCs, graphics upgrades, Xbox release, and new content types. The president himself admitted they’re aware of fan concerns and are investing harder, not pulling back.
Final Thoughts
I get it — long-time vets can feel jaded. But most players aren’t hardcore raiders or full-time streamers. We’re just people who enjoy story patches, glam farming, relic grinds, sidequests, and all the theme-park fun this MMO still offers.
FFXIV isn’t perfect, but it’s still the MMO I want to log into after work. That’s enough.