Summary
That said, regardless of what influences player count inFFXIV, Yoshida-san believes that it would be unproductive to focus on it too much:
Screen Rant: I’m just wondering what the anticipation is for Dawntrail’s player numbers. Do you still foresee it growing as explosively as the other expansions have? Or do you actually expect it to taper off and kind of focus more on the people who are already invested in Final Fantasy 14?
With trying to maintain production, as well as longevity, and making sure that the game is surviving - all of these things for an MMORPG are quite difficult. If I am affected by how the player numbers of that particular moment go up or down, if I’m excited or sad with how the numbers go up and down, it will not work for a long-term perspective.
The Future of Final Fantasy XIV, Server Issues, & Cultural Representation: An Interview With Naoki Yoshida
Screen Rant has talked to Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P, about the future of FFXIV, cultural representations in Dawntrail, and more.
FFXIV’s Subscription Count Is Less Important Than Its Longevity
Why It Makes Sense Not To Worry About It
It may seem a little strange to hear the director and producer ofFFXIVcomment on not being particularly bothered by the game’s growth rate, but it’s also a microcosmic indicator of the broader approach taken by the development team.The history of MMORPGs has shown that the genre can fluctuate quite a lot, with exciting new releases eating into long-time player subscriptions from older titles before the hype dies down and people migrate back to their “home” game.
Final Fantasy XIV’s 10th Anniversary, Job Design, Expansions, & Successes: An Interview With Naoki Yoshida
We chat with Naoki Yoshida about Final Fantasy XIV’s 10th anniversary. How hard is it to design jobs now? What’s the best expansion? Find out.
Yoshida-san would later state that his priority is to ensure that “the players are satisfied,” and to focus on creating a game experience people want to actively return to. It’s a luxury not many games admittedly have - the competition is fierce and the playerbase is only so large - but thanks to the continued quality ofFFXIV, it’s a stance Yoshida-san and the rest of the team can comfortably take while reassuring long-time players that the future is in good hands.
