Let's face it, everyone AFK's at some point. There are those that do it more than others, but any rational person takes advantage of the feature whenever they need to step away from their PS3 for fifteen minutes. We do it because we still believe in Dust's future and want to be in a preferable position when all that promise finally arrives.

What I'm noticing recently, however, is that people are stating here and elsewhere that they can no longer be bothered to even AFK. The player count not hitting over 6k this weekend kind of confirms that this is true as opposed to hot air, and to add to this you'll find more and more AFK'ers in the MCC. I interpret that latter observation to mean that now our active players are also on the path to eventually leaving.

The problem is that the connection between Dust and EVE is so shallow as to effectively not exist. What we're left with is then a normal shooter that needs much improvement. In such a situation the players will naturally bleed out to other normal shooters that play better. Frankly, despite the claims that Dust is unique, it is not so currently. It COULD be unique and it COULD be retaining its playerbase despite needing improvement IF conflict was meaningful. After all, for many years EVE retained and increased its population despite it myriad problems precisely because the pew pew really meant something.

CCP, you're understandably wary of fast-tracking the connection between Dust and EVE because you're afraid you might break one or the other or both. However, if you want Dust to survive you need to take a leaf out your own book and realise that those that take few risks reap few rewards. Your internal magazine is called "Fearless" is it not? It's time for you to live up to that name, or else watch this game die faster than you can iterate safely.