How many servers has ESO and how many severs and channels has BDO ? I still try to like ESO and I log time to time so I see whats there. It might look more populated but actualy I doubt. Atleast steam, that you respect so much shows other numbers. Other mmo counters shows that basicaly both games have similar counts. And i dont know what science you use but BDO is not far from ESO and GW2 in any counter outhere. Sometimes BDO has more players. But does it realy matter? Yes both are mmos, but both are diferent. There are people who like the one and there are people who like the other. Its wrong to try to make the one game to be like the other.

We all agree that WoW and FF are the leaders. But think about FFIV, they failed big time and redone their game to become what are they now. Dont yuo think if PA wanted BDO to be more popular they would make it PvE? Or they know that they have steady base. Also there is something that all ofyou dont even think about. The game is product of some people who usualy act like its their child. They love their creation and dont want to change it.

As long as there is a cd to change the channel, BDO has only one channel for me, because if I can not change it, there is only one.

Same as long as there is no fast travel in BDO.

The 4 biggest mistakes that destroy BDO are:

- no fast travel

- channel cd

- open pvp

- no party share personal drop for each party member.

All of this is equal to in-game toxicity. Period.

With a new character, I just did a main quest and then 250/500 mobs kill quests and I was attacked on Manshuam anyway. 

Why? For no reason, just because someone thinks they are his mobs.

Of course I was relentless and after a few deaths my attacker changed channel himself. So I won this match after all. 

The 4 points you mentioned are here from launch. They destroy BDO so much that BDO is still here after several years now.

...Wait, what? 

No I believe his 4 points is why BDO is a niche MMO. Where most players in it just mostly AFK in safe zones. And not a widely recieve mainstream MMO. Which hundreds of thousands if not millions of active MMO players flock to. 

Again I'm not saying BDO is a bad MMO. I'm just saying it's structure does not do much to retain many active MMO players. Actually it's structure actively pushes away a good majority of them. Yes Pearl Abyss has been taking measures to improve this. But as long as 4+ year old established geared players can ruin the experience of incoming new and returning players. While the game throws these baby seals into the whale pool unable to fend for themselves. All is pretty much nought long term.(I don't mean for long term game life. I mean long term new player retention.) Which is why BDO barely sees any long term boom in player counts. 

That's right, thanks for the precision. Seasons probably do a good job at attracting casuals, but I think the 1-hour personal monster areas will do a fine job at keeping them.

Being able to do everything they wanted, including a 1-hour chill pve grind per day, is more than enough for a casual player. Remember, these players are precisely not investing a lot of time in the game, 1 hour per day may even seem overkill, but it is in line with the duration of many special buffs.

So when we talk about these personal monster areas, why are you even bringing owpvp in this discussion when the idea is precisely that there won't be any owpvp for 1 hour per day, if the player wants it? 

It's my choice where I want to play, and since the seasonal channels are unplayable because there are 36 too few of them, I have to play on "standard". 

This is what the apparent "corrective movements" of the PA look like.

Players: we have only 40 channels, we don't have space to play (probably we don't have, but with channel cd and no fast travel we can't fast change / check others places to grind).

After all, it is probably logical for everyone: if I can't jump in one sec from Sulfur to Stars End on other channel I will not go away, and I don't care if someone else is playing there.

Effect: toxic pvp, mobs ks, karmabombing until one of the players quits the game. Epic "player friendly" game.

Same time all other good mmo game: party? Ok. Great. We can play together and it is profitable for us.

PA: here you go 4 more for all who currently play on 40 and don't have space.

Such a niche MMO that the revenues brought by this single game have allowed Pearl Abyss to buy CCP and sustain the simultaneous development of 3 other projects.

It's true that the setup and fundamentals of the game might not be for everyone and that the monetisation is quite aggressive, but from PA point of view, and regarding how the studio has grown, the game is a big succes.

True financially BDO has been a whopping success. But lets be honest here we have quite a few videos on youtube alone about single people. Each spending well over $250,000 USDs just to be competitive, or gain the edge in PvP. This game was design to cater to this type of person the most. With a model like this it only takes a few thousand players to produce such results. Not to mention the side income from small time players. Spending at least $70/month on the "optional" monthly sub. In the months they do decide to play BDO.

 But back on topic. As long as new and low geared returning players are giving no realistic options. Other being someone else's fodder for amusement. With absolutely no way to fight back. All of these quality of life improvements, just serve to keep the established geared players interested. While new and returning players more than likely comeback try for a month of two. Than leave again for 3 to 4 months. Till the next update or Season.

I truly think that normal PvE servers will go far to make BDO extremely popular. All the the features are nearly there. It's just some very big pain points for a lot of gamers. Prevent them from sticking with the game long term. Again very few gamers are masochists. There for it is not far from the box to understand that many drop the game after experiencing such grief from players. Without the means to defend themselves.

Those people you mention that spending so much money get deleted too. Do you think every time when they die is from player that spend more money than them? If its true, BDO is lucky to have so many rich players... Or just people gear up by playingthe game. Which no matter what you say is imposible. Ofc not for 1 week. Also let me rimind you that new "one shot" gives chance for players with lower AP to kill top end players. Atleast 99% of them.

Ofc many players that want to buy the game and from day one to go to end game spots ot to kill 6 years vet players. Whic is normal, they like other type of game. BDO is not that type. Its not PA fault, is player fault. They chose wrong game. Maybe even wrong genre. Like Seme. Its obvious that he wnat other type of game. More easy and fast progression.