Final Fantasy 14 - State of the Community

Shifting Tides of the Eorzean Community

Final Fantasy XIV has always been celebrated for its friendly player base, beautiful storytelling, memorable characters, and a strong sense of community. However, with the release of the most recent expansion, I’ve noticed a significant shift in that community dynamic. After six years of calling Eorzea home, I want to break down my thoughts on how things have changed.

A Little Background

To give some context: I’ve been playing FFXIV for six years. My love for the franchise runs deep, having played various other Final Fantasy titles, Kingdom Hearts, NieR, and much of the Square Enix catalog.

In-game, I’ve fully immersed myself in the social fabric. I’ve been a member of several Free Companies (FCs), participated in the Hunt community, and genuinely love helping "sprouts" (new players) by running random dungeons, raids, and trials. Some of my FC mates have become real-life friends I’ve shared major life events with. For a long time, the social aspect was the heart of the game for me.

What Changed?

When I started back in 2020, the first thing that struck me was how chatty and helpful everyone was. Whether it was advice in a dungeon or just "shout" chat banter in the cities, the world felt alive. Before the launch of Dawntrail, however, that energy started to dip. I think a few factors contributed to this:

  1. The Content Drought: We had a very long wait between the end of Endwalker and the beginning of Dawntrail.

  2. Narrative Reception: The new story arc in Dawntrail wasn't as universally embraced as previous expansions.

  3. Mechanical Stagnation: Changes to job "balance"—intended to make classes easier or "better"—actually stripped away some of the uniqueness that kept players engaged.

This repetition has started to wear on the core player base. Even the dungeons have become formulaic: Large Mobs → Boss → Mobs → Boss → Final Boss. When the casual player base gets tired of the same "hallway" patterns, they stop engaging. I’ve noticed a sharp decline in dungeon chatter; people have stopped being helpful and, in some cases, have become openly frustrated or toxic toward newcomers who aren't performing perfectly.

The Loss of "The Silly Side"

One of my favorite things used to be the kindness found in older content, like the Syrcus Tower alliance raids. Because those raids are older and take a bit of time, the chat was usually filled with silly banter or players "cutting a rug" and dancing during boss transitions.

Now, most runs are met with total silence. While talking isn't mandatory, the lack of it makes the game feel more like a chore than a social experience. Because FFXIV relies on a text-only chat system (unlike the built-in voice chat you’d find in Call of Duty), the silence feels even heavier. Unless you are already in a Discord call with friends, the world can feel quite lonely.

The Role-Play (RP) Scene and Modern Shifts           

It’s not all quiet, of course. City-states are still busy, and you’ll still find plenty of coordination in the Hunt community or within high-end "Savage" raiding parties. However, the most visible community right now is the Role-Playing (RP) scene.

The RP community is incredibly active, but it has been making headlines lately for the wrong reasons. While many groups are just friends having innocent fun within their FCs, others have gained notoriety due to "ERP" (Erotic Role Play) or the recent controversies surrounding third-party mods and real-world advertising (like the infamous billboard incident). This has created a bit of a divide in how the general public views the community.

Can We Fix the Vibe?

Square Enix has tried to implement small social fixes, like adding overhead speech bubbles, but is that enough? Personally, I don't think so. Between the polarizing story and the increasing amount of "cool" items being moved to the real-money Cash Shop (rather than being earnable in-game rewards), many players—myself included—have felt the need to take a break.

I would love to see Square Enix invest in:

  • More Community Events: Fresh, updated seasonal events (Christmas, Easter, etc.) that feel impactful.

  • New Social Spaces: Dedicated hangout spots in cities outside of the main aetheryte plazas.

  • Content Balance: A better mix of casual vs. hardcore content to prevent the "droughts" that drive people away.

Final Thoughts

So, what happened to the community? There isn't just one "smoking gun." A combination of repetitive mechanics, a divisive new story, and a lack of fresh side content has caused many "steady casuals" to leave. Unfortunately, that has left a void often filled by the more vocal, toxic players who were previously outnumbered. For the game to feel like home again, we need a reason to start talking to each other again—and not just about the loot.
Location: Highland, IN, USA

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