With prolonged wait instances a distant reminiscence, the Last Fantasy XIV workforce is able to return to normalcy by letting people keep logged in endlessly, regardless of how lengthy they go with out, you understand, really enjoying the massively multiplayer on-line sport.
In July 2021, Last Fantasy XIV launched a system that kicked gamers after half-hour of inactivity. This aimed to mitigate the sport’s rising server congestion forward of the extremely anticipated Endwalker growth’s launch that December. Sadly, it didn’t do a lot. The overwhelming reputation usually resulted in hours-long login queues. However issues have chilled out lately. Gamers are once more free to AFK to their hearts’ content material, a characteristic that units Last Fantasy XIV aside from its contemporaries.
When Last Fantasy XIV carried out these auto logouts, I used to be shocked that the sport didn’t already boot individuals who weren’t doing something. When it comes to sustaining on-line stability, it solely is smart. Drawing in tens of 1000’s of gamers at any given second means doing all the things you’ll be able to to make sure servers aren’t being overloaded. Different persistent on-line video games like World of Warcraft, Runescape, and Misplaced Ark, for example, have lengthy had their very own AFK timers.
Last Fantasy XIV—and, by extension, its participant base—is completely different from different MMOs. Its lack of an AFK player-booting system permits the world to really feel fuller and extra alive. Touring to any of Last Fantasy XIV’s bustling metropolis facilities could be an amazing expertise, as you’re usually met with throngs of gamers simply hanging out. In truth, some people by no means sign off in any respect, preferring to let their characters dance away the time between play periods in public areas.
As such, the Last Fantasy XIV workforce’s determination to take away the AFK timer is proving to be a preferred one with the MMO’s passionate group.
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“Once I first began, there was some man standing within the street within the Black Shroud for a stable week,” stated a participant on the Last Fantasy XIV subreddit in response to the information. “I used to be dumbstruck. Now, I just about by no means sign off, for no specific cause, so I get it.”
“Earlier than [Endwalker] launched, there was all the time a dude on the steps in entrance of the Aetheryte in Ul’Dah doing the [Bee’s Knees dance],” one other participant stated. “I referred to him because the Meth Pope resulting from his colourful outfit (or lack thereof), and for the primary time in months, I noticed him once more this morning.”
“I alt-tab within the [free company] home day-after-day, maintaining the music within the background,” stated a 3rd. “I reckon I’m in all probability not alone with that. Different individuals simply by no means sign off. Fashionable PCs have the power to maintain [Final Fantasy XIV] open with out hindering the rest. Can actually play different video games whereas [it’s] working. I log in after I activate my PC, sign off after I flip it off.”
Last Fantasy XIV’s social elements usually immediate gamers to realize private objectives exterior the standard content material, equivalent to making their character as vivid as attainable.
Sq. Enix is presently having fun with a victory lap after Endwalker contributed to a “sharp rise” in subscriptions, making it one of many firm’s most worthwhile endeavors within the earlier fiscal yr. Apart from the elimination of the AFK timer, Last Fantasy XIV has additionally obtained smaller mechanical changes and further content material by way of the present “Newfound Journey” patch, which ought to, partly, lead immediately into its subsequent main storyline.