Feedback from a Veteran Player to the current state of the game
Subject: Feedback from a Veteran Player: Suggestions for FF XIV Future Expansions
Dear Mr. Yoshida, dear Square Enix Developer Team
I am writing to you as a longtime player of Final Fantasy XIV, a veteran who has been with the game since the very first hours of A Realm Reborn. I am from Germany and have followed every expansion with passion. I wish to share my thoughts openly, directly, but respectfully, because Final Fantasy XIV is more than just a game to me – it is a part of my life.
For me, Heavensward and especially Stormblood represent the pinnacle of what Final Fantasy XIV can achieve. Heavensward captivated with the epic Dragonsong War in Ishgard, the Thordan raids, and deep, immersive world-building. Stormblood elevated everything to a peak: the Asia-inspired theme, locations like Ruby Sea, Kugane, and Castle Kugane, and raids such as Shinryu, Omega, and Rhalgr’s Watch – every element was perfectly integrated in story, mechanics, and atmosphere. Difficulty was challenging yet fair; mechanics were demanding but learnable. Every raid phase, every quest, every relic weapon felt meaningful, motivating, and enjoyable. Stormblood, for me, was FF XIV at its finest – epic, mystical, challenging, and emotionally gripping.
In contrast, Dawntrail and some recent expansions feel like a departure from the essence of FF XIV. Storylines drift, raids are often isolated and overmechanized, and phase complexity has reached levels once reserved for Ultimate content. Locations, themes, and antagonists have lost their muse and mystique; the Ascians feel sidelined, and crossovers like Nier or competition/Edge-Lord themes feel out of place. The immersive experience that Heavensward and Stormblood provided has been significantly diminished.
I want to emphasize: I respect the need for challenge. Difficult content is necessary and welcome. However, the current standard in normal raids – with numerous phases and overloaded mechanics – shifts focus to pure execution, reducing the emotional and mystical magic of the game.
My hope is that future expansions will return to the strengths of Heavensward and Stormblood: epic storytelling, compelling antagonists, raids that feel thematically coherent, challenging yet fair mechanics, immersive locations, and music that conveys emotion and drama. Only then can Final Fantasy XIV remain the unforgettable experience it has always been for veterans like me and countless others.
Thank you for your attention and for your work on this game, which is more than mere entertainment for many of us. I hope you will consider this as sincere feedback from a dedicated veteran, who longs to see FF XIV return to the epic heights it once achieved.
Sincerely,
Bahamut
Germany
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Subject: Feedback from a Veteran Player: Suggestions for FF XIV Future Expansions
Dear Mr. Yoshida, dear Square Enix Developer Team
I am writing to you as a longtime player of Final Fantasy XIV, a veteran who has been with the game since the very first hours of A Realm Reborn. I am from Germany and have followed every expansion with passion. I wish to share my thoughts openly, directly, but respectfully, because Final Fantasy XIV is more than just a game to me – it is a part of my life.
For me, Heavensward and especially Stormblood represent the pinnacle of what Final Fantasy XIV can achieve. Heavensward captivated with the epic Dragonsong War in Ishgard, the Thordan raids, and deep, immersive world-building. Stormblood elevated everything to a peak: the Asia-inspired theme, locations like Ruby Sea, Kugane, and Castle Kugane, and raids such as Shinryu, Omega, and Rhalgr’s Watch – every element was perfectly integrated in story, mechanics, and atmosphere. Difficulty was challenging yet fair; mechanics were demanding but learnable. Every raid phase, every quest, every relic weapon felt meaningful, motivating, and enjoyable. Stormblood, for me, was FF XIV at its finest – epic, mystical, challenging, and emotionally gripping.
In contrast, Dawntrail and some recent expansions feel like a departure from the essence of FF XIV. Storylines drift, raids are often isolated and overmechanized, and phase complexity has reached levels once reserved for Ultimate content. Locations, themes, and antagonists have lost their muse and mystique; the Ascians feel sidelined, and crossovers like Nier or competition/Edge-Lord themes feel out of place. The immersive experience that Heavensward and Stormblood provided has been significantly diminished.
I want to emphasize: I respect the need for challenge. Difficult content is necessary and welcome. However, the current standard in normal raids – with numerous phases and overloaded mechanics – shifts focus to pure execution, reducing the emotional and mystical magic of the game.
My hope is that future expansions will return to the strengths of Heavensward and Stormblood: epic storytelling, compelling antagonists, raids that feel thematically coherent, challenging yet fair mechanics, immersive locations, and music that conveys emotion and drama. Only then can Final Fantasy XIV remain the unforgettable experience it has always been for veterans like me and countless others.
Thank you for your attention and for your work on this game, which is more than mere entertainment for many of us. I hope you will consider this as sincere feedback from a dedicated veteran, who longs to see FF XIV return to the epic heights it once achieved.
Sincerely,
Bahamut
Germany
Continue reading...