Can we finally please have a proper game client launcher in 2019?

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Originally Posted by Berethos

That update button will change once you can play (ours updates as soon as you log in to your account, Blizzards has you indicate when you want the update to happen since launching the Blizzard app to that point requires logging in). It's actually pretty easy to use, though it's worth pointing out that it's not just a launcher, but a full fledged app meant to support all of Blizzard's modern/online titles, and a couple Activision ones as well. It's closer to a mini-Steam client than a launcher, honestly, mixed with being a mini-Discord.

I've also not found it to be used all that much out of game, especially since Discord really became popular. It's nice, and if FFXIV were to liberally be inspired by it if they chose to redo their launcher that would be great, but I don't think many consider the ability to chat when not in the game to be quite as big a deal as the OP.

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All of my friends would chat with me out of the game before logging in or after logging out, many times I received questions like when will I finish the raid (cause it can be seen through the app where I am in the game) or even questions like am I in a PvP premade and if there is a spot for them so they login and join? Or even friends who logout to watch some youtube but still continue their conversation with me so as far as I remember everyone other than me pretty much uses it except for friends who login and logout when they come to their PC and when they leave it. It's true that Discord has become very popular but unfortunately many on my friends list don't wish to use it for their own reasons and I don't feel like convincing any of them to.

I imagine the FFXIV launcher will always go through an internet browser mostly because console doesn't have the option of having a stand-alone app like what Blizzard has on PC. Could they rearrange some things in the browser, yes definitely, but that could be all we ever get.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

I imagine the FFXIV launcher will always go through an internet browser mostly because console doesn't have the option of having a stand-alone app like what Blizzard has on PC. Could they rearrange some things in the browser, yes definitely, but that could be all we ever get.

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So how does the Diablo III on consoles work? If anyone can enlighten us cause it uses the same launcher as WoW on PC

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Originally Posted by Husain

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It doesn't have a launcher or browser the game just loads up directly like any other console title.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

It doesn't have a launcher or browser the game just loads up directly like any other console title.

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Do you think it would be possible with FFXIV's console version too?
As in how Diablo 3 is launched through the Blizz app launcher on PC while it can be launched as I think I understood you saying that it does get launched without a launcher or browser.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

It doesn't have a launcher or browser the game just loads up directly like any other console title.

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Does the console version even connect to desktop or mobile app?

I've had a copy on console since RoS released, but it's been so long that I don't remember how integrated it actually is with Blizzard's other stuff, and google isn't pulling up much in the way of enlightenment on the subject.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

I imagine the FFXIV launcher will always go through an internet browser mostly because console doesn't have the option of having a stand-alone app like what Blizzard has on PC. Could they rearrange some things in the browser, yes definitely, but that could be all we ever get.

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That is because all Western, Japanese and Korean MMO's launchers work that way. The Launcher is simply a web browser with a hook to do download/patching, and a separate "launch with session id" .

A "real launcher" is just another bloated program for the developers to maintain, and if you want to ask for a real launcher, what you need to ask is for SE to put the launcher ON THE MOBILE APP. All that would exist on the PC is the patcher, which connects and downloads the patches, but doesn't login until you tell the App to "Login Character X on Server Y" from the app. So while you're 20 minutes away on transit you could tell your PC/PS4 at home to login your character and idle in your house/barracks/inn.

Basically what I'm saying is that the launcher is fine as it is, and works like all other launchers out there. Other companies tack on other functionality because they want you to play their other games, use their store, etc. This functionality is actually already in the App that the dev's have developed, and thus it makes more sense for that functionality to be in the app, and instead maybe strip out the Microsoft-centric webbrowser integration in favor of a more general webkit webview that would allow the same launcher to work seamlessly on MacOS X.

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Originally Posted by Berethos

Does the console version even connect to desktop or mobile app?

I've had a copy on console since RoS released, but it's been so long that I don't remember how integrated it actually is with Blizzard's other stuff, and google isn't pulling up much in the way of enlightenment on the subject.

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From googling I found that it's not as possible as that on console, there is a way but it's almost like a pause or a troublesome way for some players wherein the voice chat has become preferred, so there is no normal in-game chat.

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Originally Posted by KisaiTenshi

That is because all Western, Japanese and Korean MMO's launchers work that way. The Launcher is simply a web browser with a hook to do download/patching, and a separate "launch with session id" .

A "real launcher" is just another bloated program for the developers to maintain, and if you want to ask for a real launcher, what you need to ask is for SE to put the launcher ON THE MOBILE APP. All that would exist on the PC is the patcher, which connects and downloads the patches, but doesn't login until you tell the App to "Login Character X on Server Y" from the app. So while you're 20 minutes away on transit you could tell your PC/PS4 at home to login your character and idle in your house/barracks/inn.

Basically what I'm saying is that the launcher is fine as it is, and works like all other launchers out there. Other companies tack on other functionality because they want you to play their other games, use their store, etc. This functionality is actually already in the App that the dev's have developed, and thus it makes more sense for that functionality to be in the app, and instead maybe strip out the Microsoft-centric webbrowser integration in favor of a more general webkit webview that would allow the same launcher to work seamlessly on MacOS X.

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So you instead approve of the FFXIV companion app being improved and interconnected with the in-game's chat.
I would prefer that still over the current situation myself, it was what I was expecting of the companion app until I found out that the companion app's messaging is only between a companion app user to a companion app user.

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Originally Posted by Husain

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Possibly, if they can find another way of doing the login/one time code check then yeah, maybe through a stand alone app or the phone app perhaps.

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Originally Posted by Berethos

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When you play diablo or Overwatch on console, the game boots up, you'll see a server connections check and after that it's straight to the main menu of the game. There is no redirection to any browser or anything. Also players don't need to have any account with Blizzard to play their games on console, so I imagine that's why there is lack of launcher requirements.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

...Also players don't need to have any account with Blizzard to play their games on console, so I imagine that's why there is lack of launcher requirements.

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Interesting...
Could be why the FFXIV was held back the same from the beginning until now.