Square have been pumping out mediocre games by the truckload ever since the Enix merger. I don't think the Final Fantasy brand has been 'damaged' by XIV per se, but that it was just the apex of what's been a slow decline in notability and respect of Square as a developer over the last ten years or so. Time was, the announcement of a next FF installment would cue it being splashed on magazine covers for months. Any notion of it being a great game was a given. Now? Few are quick to hold their breath anymore.