FFXIV and Promotions as Main Content
I think we need to see actual gameplay of the FF7 Raid series before making too harsh of a judgement. However, there is a huge difference between using an entry in the series as inspiration to fully integrate into FFXIV's world and having a disconnected promotion with little to no ties to FFXIV's world. The former is sincere and thoughtful, while the latter is little more than fanservice and advertisement in the end.
The Ivalice Raid series is the best example of it done right. The whole raid series acts as a synergistic marketing promotion for FFXII: The Zodiac Age, but instead of just throwing FFXII into FFXIV in a disconnected manner, they instead fully integrated Ivalice and it's stories into the foundational lore of FFXIV to tell a story with a lot of substsnce and impact. The Eden Raid series and the FFIV-inspired MSQ are other example of it done well. These are examples of paying homage to other beloved entries in the series, but using the elements to present something new and unique that goes far beyond just "hey remember this from that game?" In fact, pretty much every expansion in FFXIV contains elements from a different entry in the series to serve as inspiration in creating something brand new.
Poor examples are the NieR Raid and the Vana'diel Raid. While containing a lot of creativity, effort, and being cool and fun all around, substance-wise they are much more blatently fanservice and promotion that remain isolated. Their stories and lore remain disconnected from FFXIV and in the end are little more than a flash in the pan despite occupying such a large part of their expansions' content and storytelling.
What makes it more upsetting is that the 24-Man Raid series for Evercold is also a promotion advertising Evangelion. So both Raids are likely subjected to offering no real substance to the world of FFXIV. Which means that aside from the MSQ and other small pieces of content, a massive part of Evercold's overall content will really have nothing to do with FFXIV.
These types of promotions are much better suited for smaller-scaled events and questlines where fans of the series being promoted can have fun, get cool rewards, and see stuff that nakes them happy for a while. The Special Seasonal Events they have done in the past for DQX, FFXI, FFXIII, FFXV, FFXVI, and Yokai watch have been perfect for accomplishing this. The Gold Saucer event they have planned for FF7 is also perfect. Even the Monster Hunter collaborations they have done in the past are perfect for this type of promotion despite being much more involved, because they dont take a content-slot from something else.
There is little doubt that both Raids in Evercold will be fun and cool, but it is hard to see them in a positive light when it feels so much like just a marketing gimick without any class. Again, we will need to see more until we can fully judge it, but the fact that they announced the FF7 Raid series with just a render from FF7R and One Winged Angel without any form of FFXIV uniqueness is very telling that this is most likey a wholesale advertisemet without much thought into how it nurtures the world of FFXIV.
I love FF7R and I love Evangelion and Im sure their Raids will be fun, but I dont think it belongs in FFXIV the way it is being presented.
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