What FFXIV's Relaunch Teaches Every Struggling MMO

The takeaway for players is that a clean break can do what patches cannot, though most live games will never get that chance.

The takeaway for players is that a clean break can do what patches cannot, though most live games will never get that chance.

Key points - Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch was partly fueled by the game going away before returning. - The column asks readers to imagine a non-FFXIV MMO and count the changes it would need. - FFXIV's original version was replaced by a large-scale relaunch. - Most live MMOs cannot afford to disappear while overhauling themselves.

Timeline - Original FFXIV launch: The first version of the game arrived and struggled. - Relaunch: FFXIV returned with a major overhaul rather than a simple patch.

FAQ

Q: Why did FFXIV's relaunch work so well? A: According to the column, part of the reason was that the game went away first, which reset expectations in a way ordinary updates cannot.

Q: Does this mean other MMOs should shut down to reboot? A: No. The point is that it is very hard for a running MMO to reinvent itself, not that every game should disappear.

Q: What is the column asking readers to imagine? A: It asks you to picture a non-FFXIV MMO and count how many changes it would need between launch and a do-over.