The Ultimate Showdown: Unleashing the Epics - World of Warcraft's Dragonflight Expansion vs FF14's Endwalker

Highlights

Final Fantasy 14's Endwalker expansion has risen above World of Warcraft's recent lows, positioning itself as one of the top MMORPGs.

WoW's Dragonflight presents a promising advancement with its innovative elements and a revitalized emphasis on player customization. However, the contentious tactics employed by Blizzard in relation to the Trading Post have stirred up controversy. In the meantime, FF14 has substantially gained from WoW's mistakes during the Shadowlands expansion by enticing "WoW refugees" through its extended free trial and the excitement generated by Endwalker.

Considered by MMORPG fans to be among the best in the genre, both past and present, World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 each have their own unique appeal. However, while World of Warcraft has experienced its fair share of highs and lows with its expansions, Final Fantasy 14 has managed to overcome initial struggles and establish itself as a top-tier MMORPG within the Final Fantasy series.

Although Endwalker predates Dragonflight by almost a year, both expansions give players a glimpse into the future plans of Final Fantasy 14 and World of Warcraft. While the Dawntrail expansion sets itself apart from Endwalker, providing FF14 players with a clearer path forward, the direction that Blizzard will take World of Warcraft, as it approaches its 20th anniversary, remains uncertain despite the positive reception of Shadowlands.

Dragonflight Is A Step In the Right Direction for WoW

With new additions like Dragonriding, the introduction of the Dracthyr Evoker hero class, and the reintroduction of point-based talent trees, Dragonflight was influenced by the feedback received from World of Warcraft players following the Shadowlands expansion. As a result of many dissatisfied players leaving the game and the development team grappling with the consequences, the future of World of Warcraft seemed grim for a while. However, thanks to a renewed focus on providing players with customization options and improving the user interface, the game has managed to regain some of its initially lost player base.

After the release of Dragonflight, a significant feature called the Trading Post was implemented to keep players engaged through monthly rewards and challenges. However, there has been recent controversy surrounding the Trading Post, as Blizzard decided to add Trader's Tenders to the Cash Shop via the Corsage Pack. While obtaining 200 Trader's Tenders for $5 in a cosmetic pack may appear insignificant, the underlying principle did not sit well with World of Warcraft players. Only time will tell if Blizzard will reconsider their strategies concerning the Trading Post moving forward.

Though Dragonflight offers a superior player experience compared to Shadowlands, the long-standing MMORPG from Blizzard still has a considerable journey ahead. As the highly anticipated Patch 10.1.7 approaches and speculation about Patch 10.2 builds among players, the delivery of these updates by Blizzard will immensely shape the atmosphere for World of Warcraft's 20th anniversary in 2024.

Endwalker Is the Biggest Beneficiary of Blizzard's Mistakes

The Shadowlands expansion proved to be a challenging period for World of Warcraft enthusiasts. As Blizzard faced harassment allegations and the community voiced dissatisfaction with various aspects like features, gameplay loops, and storytelling, a substantial number of players departed from Azeroth during the summer of 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic peak.

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Without a doubt, Final Fantasy 14 emerged as the major destination for these "WoW refugees." With an extended free trial and the excitement surrounding the Endwalker expansion, 2021 witnessed a significant shift as players traded their allegiance to the Alliance and Horde for the allure of Miqo'te tails and Viera ears. However, this surge in popularity also resulted in severe strain on the game's servers when Endwalker was launched in December 2021, with players enduring hours-long wait times during the initial weeks of the expansion.

Such strain compelled Square Enix to temporarily pause the free trial of Final Fantasy 14 until the queues could be stabilized. Some players noted that the game's own success, coupled with the setbacks faced by WoW, contributed to the challenges experienced. Despite the server queues now being under control, Final Fantasy 14 currently finds itself in a post-Endwalker phase as players eagerly anticipate the release of Patch 6.5, Growing Light, and celebrate the game's 10th Anniversary since its relaunch as A Realm Reborn. While the era of Endwalker may be coming to an end, its impact on the MMORPG genre will continue to resonate for quite some time.

World of Warcraft is available for PC.