Darkstorne
Member
This is a SUBSCRIPTION based MMO so it's in Square-Enix's best interest to keep you subscribed for as long as possible.
So by forcing new players to go through the old content in order to access the new content they are in a sense increasing the amount of time you would need to clear the old content and therefore keep you subscribed longer.
Right, but my point is... How does Heavensward attract players that weren't quite interested enough in the base game? ALL of its content is for level 50 players who have completed the main story.
I'm an MMO player who's been on the fence about XIV for a long time. I didn't quite enjoy the game enough to sub to it previously, but have been waiting for an expansion to add enough features that make me think "Yep! I'm definitely willing to give this another shot now!" Instead I saw that it makes absolutely no changes to the first ~50 hours of the game, so I instantly realized "this is not for me..."
Most MMO expansions offer end-game content with new locations, levels, stories, and raids, as well as new early-game content to attract new players (races, classes, starter zones, professions, etc). Heavensward makes no attempt to attract new player at all, which is a very... unique approach to expansions.