Final Fantasy 14's director, Yoshi-P, has told players to enjoy "in your own way" after worries of AFK timeouts ruining more leisurely activities in the game.
A new blog on the Lode Stone discusses increasing the login caps on EU data centres. It also features a message from Yoshida about AFK timeouts and how it shouldn't impact how players enjoy the game.
To help with the increased number of players, Final Fantasy 14 recently brought back an AFK timeout to the game for the first time without it being linked to an expansion pack. This has caused many to panic about some of the activities they can perform, as some things, like dancing and watching the game, don't require button inputs. Yoshida has now said that players shouldn't stop themselves doing these things, and actively encourages it.
Yoshida said, "I myself have played many an MMO, so I know how watching other players bustle past during mealtimes physically and mentally prepares you for challenging dungeons later, and how a spontaneous dance performance can brighten everyone’s day. These are ways of roleplaying, and they are part of the fun of MMORPGs."
He continued, "Therefore, I want you to know that while I deeply appreciate you being considerate, activities such as the above are part of the game too, and you don’t need to show so much restraint that you stop having fun! We have implemented the automatic logout feature, which will log you out if you do not interact with the game for an extended period, so allowing that system to do its job is enough. Please continue to enjoy FFXIV in your own way, and show our new players how alive its world is with adventurers of all sorts."
Yoshida also specifically mentioned that the team is actively working on a solution for certain AFK timeout instances, such as when trying to hunt the "big fish", and that the developers are trying to "create a better gameplay environment for all of our Warriors of Light".