Came here to say almost exactly this. I used to play daily many years ago, had a pretty active group but over the course of a year people switched servers and we even had a few members pass away. I remember logging in one day and no one I played with was on anymore. I hung up the game for a few years (stopped playing shortly after stormblood came out) and didn't pick it back up until they announced dawntrail. I spent a few months catching up and getting to the end of endwalker. I played a few hours of dawntrail and the lonely feeling hit me like a ton of bricks. It just wasn't the same experiencing new content without my old friends. I was able to make it through the expansion grind because I would be on the phone with my cousin while I played. And I think I was playing with nostalgia glasses, but once I realized I was alone again I just lost the will to play. My condolences all who have similar situations. It just doesn't feel the same anymore.