Final Fantasy XVI (PC/PS5) - June 22, 2023

[Tyrath]

Could totally get behind a not fucks up the whole series sequel

CC is still a goddamn gem though.

[arus2001]

Crapping out a few games that inevitably felt like trial engines before SE settled on the one they did for XIV doesn't help. Like, RIP forever Valkyrie Profile probably. And honestly, I'm also inclined to say XVI DID get mixed reviews. Media shilling is one thing, but I feel like the whole "not an RPG" backlash is valid and not just hipster contrarianism that could bite SE on future entries if they just keep chasing a watered down DMC clone. No amount of, "Well, there's still Octopath..." or other side titles they very much don't give their all on is comfort there. Not everyone shares the sentiment that RPGs have to settle for lesser quality in certain areas because they're RPGs.

[NynJa]

I dont care of the opinions of a couple grandfathers from an era long gone.

[Tyrath]

Nah every FF gets the "not a true FF" fan backlash. I don't think that accounts for it being mixed reviews. It's generally reviewed pretty well.

[Andalusian girls]

yeah wat, mixed? it has an 87 at MC. it didn't review as an all time mastapiece like Baldur's Gate 3 or Tears of the Kingdom but it was very positively received critically.

Its more of a business issue for them. Relying on a single title for commercial success is always risky. The risk can be mitigated by having a larger potential buyer base (multiplatform or heck involving prev. Generation) so exclusivity isn’t helping them either.

For better financial results Rebirth will have to get rid of its exclusivity as quick as possible, if they are expecting a FF7Remake level of success they may end up being disappointed since back in 2020 PS4 had a very well established userbase.

ye the model of having your blockbusters subsidize all the mid and low cost projects that rarely turn a profit is by nature extremely risky. reckon its why they've invested so much into their minority mobile/browser and MMO divisions.

ReBirth's performance will be quite interesting. if it outsells XVI significantly may speak more to the limitations of the commercial appeal of XVI, or validate what we all assume in the install base being the major problem.

[Anoat]

Anyone who bitched about XVI being “not an RPG” is being a dumb fuck because they never marketed it as an RPG, they were very upfront in all the marketing that it was action oriented. Shits like getting a Big Mac and being like “waaaaaah this isn’t KFC!”

[arus2001]

Imagine people wanting an RPG from a franchise that's historically been RPGs. But no, it's their fault SE strayed.

[Anoat]

It is their fault if they are fully aware it’s not an RPG, play it anyway, and then complain it’s not an RPG. The fuck did you expect? They never claimed it was an RPG.

[Lokus]

I was so mad that Mario RPG was not a platformer so I review bombed it and let people know how it sucks.

[Andalusian girls]

i'd say people are justified in being disappointed that a franchise they've long supported switches genres on them, but aye that should be anger at the execs making the decision, not the devs who put work into making the game they said they were making. gotta judge a thing on its own merits not what you wished it had been.

[NynJa]

Theres a difference between "XVI SUCKS BECAUSE ITS NOT A RPG LIKE I WANTED IT TO BE" and "XVI sucks because -reasons regarding the actual game itself-". The bulk of the complaints come from the former, which have zero correlation to the game being good or bad. That is a personal problem.

Legit reasons to use why XVI sucks:
linear
no endgame
short
no much replayability
story issues (Leviathan???)

Bad reasons to use why XVI sucks:
Its not a RPG (wrong because it does have RPG elements)
Its not turn based

[Zealot]

First 12 FF games were all 3 per console generation, then two for PS3, now one for PS4 and one for PS5. Next up is probably another MMO for PS6.

[Prothescar]

Theres a difference between "XVI SUCKS BECAUSE ITS NOT A RPG LIKE I WANTED IT TO BE" and "XVI sucks because -reasons regarding the actual game itself-". The bulk of the complaints come from the former, which have zero correlation to the game being good or bad. That is a personal problem.

Legit reasons to use why XVI sucks:
linear
no endgame
short
no much replayability
story issues (Leviathan???)

Bad reasons to use why XVI sucks:
Its not a RPG (wrong because it does have RPG elements)
Its not turn based

You forgot the cacophany of turboboomers over on AH screeching about how Yoshida killed their firstborn and also made XVI as a dog whistle or whatever

[Tyrath]

First 12 FF games were all 3 per console generation, then two for PS3, now one for PS4 and one for PS5. Next up is probably another MMO for PS6.

With how well FF14 is doing, I don't see a MMO coming anytime soon

[Athas]

With how well FF14 is doing, I don't see a MMO coming anytime soon

You'd think so yet the main reason SE is struggling is they had just shuddered like three other live service games. I don't think any of them even lasted a year.

I think their 2022 finical report even stated explicitly they would have been profitable if not for their live service blunders - and NFTs yet still somehow saying they're committed to blockchain nonsense.

[Lokus]

The mobile space is hella competitive and SE doesn't really lean into what makes them profitable in the long run (coomer bait). Also, I definitely wasn't the only one that was surprised "First Soldier" is shutting down, not because it's bad, but because I didn't even know it was out already.

[Anoat]

MMO startups require a HUGE investment though. They do pay off in the long run if they are successful, but most MMOs fail within a year and take a huge loss. Probably not something SE is interested in at the moment.

[Andalusian girls]

FFXIV has probably been their most profitable single product for the last few years, can't imagine them replacing it anytime soon. updating an existing, popular MMO is very low cost relative to the revenue it generates. it's why Blizzard finds itself semi-stuck with WoW after all these years. money too good and too consistent to move on from it and fire up the replacement.

[Zealot]

XI is still running and I imagine would keep running even in the face of a hypothetical XVII Online.

Even if they began development on it today, the development cycle is such that they would probably have time to put out at least one more expansion pack for XIV past the one already slated before it ever came online.

[Anoat]

FFXIV has probably been their most profitable single product for the last few years, can't imagine them replacing it anytime soon. updating an existing, popular MMO is very low cost relative to the revenue it generates. it's why Blizzard finds itself semi-stuck with WoW after all these years. money too good and too consistent to move on from it and fire up the replacement.

XIV is getting a graphics update in the next expansion cycle. As much as they can anyway being built on the bones of PS3 graphics.