No longer able to log into Steam version with my non-Steam account. Why do this SE?

Trying to figure all this out. I have a friend who is having the same issue. What does he need to do in order to log in? Does he need to just log in through steam?

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Originally Posted by Nyvara

Trying to figure all this out. I have a friend who is having the same issue. What does he need to do in order to log in? The legit way.

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Execute ffxivboot.exe (can make short cut) within steam/steamapps/common/final fantasy xiv/boot folder.

Or use the NON-STEAM client from FFXIV website.

Never knew there was any other way to launch a steam game outside of launching steam. Never knew this problem even existed.

So whats the big deal with tracking play time when ffxiv has one built in? And even if they didnt, whats the big deal?

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Originally Posted by Endeleon

[...] Also to the genius who... apparently bought a second account to play his windows version with the steam controller, you can simply add the game as an external program and it works fine [...]

Geez you guys... a second of trying instead of hours of raging.

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Those who repurchased the game on Steam after already owning the standalone Windows version did so for the QoL/additional features available on Steam, such as being able to feature the game on your Steam profile, post a review of the game, upload screenshots to community hub, publicly track hours, and broadcast the game via Steam. The poster you're referring to also spoke of using the aforementioned features; not using Steam exclusively for its controller support. Running XIV as a non-Steam game doesn't allow for these things.

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Originally Posted by iWaRTuRTLeS

So whats the big deal with tracking play time when ffxiv has one built in? And even if they didnt, whats the big deal?

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The above reasons apply here too, and at that, /played is character specific, rather than account wide as Steam's tracked hours are. Whether it's a big deal or not is relative, though I don't think it's difficult to understand why some appreciate being able to track their playtime.

I have the steam version. I have tried launching through steam. It will not launch. This update has seriously screwed me over.

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Originally Posted by Elijahgrimm

I have the steam version. I have tried launching through steam. It will not launch. This update has seriously screwed me over.

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I have to reinstall the entire game now.

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Originally Posted by Endeleon

Where were all of you angry people the past few months they've been talking about this? If you had made a stink then, it might not have been implemented, and yet you just ignored it. Typical.

Also to the genius who... apparently bought a second account to play his windows version with the steam controller, you can simply add the game as an external program and it works fine. I literally just did it. And no, I do not nor have I ever owned XIV on Steam. I logged in with my Windows account.
How to add non-steam game: https://i.imgur.com/fTIBgZf.png
What it looks like in library: https://i.imgur.com/IIFWvba.png
Proof and overlay and controller settings work: https://i.imgur.com/U49POXW.png

Geez you guys... a second of trying instead of hours of raging.

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Yeah here's how it looks if you did buy a Steam copy.
https://i.imgur.com/8cXnDu2.png

Maybe you can tell me, how much do you see here that you didn't in your pic?

So it's time to throw the towel I guess

thankfully this forum post is one of the top google results and I was able to find it quickly. Thank you for posting it so I could get operational again.

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Originally Posted by Endeleon

Where were all of you angry people the past few months they've been talking about this? If you had made a stink then, it might not have been implemented, and yet you just ignored it. Typical.

Also to the genius who... apparently bought a second account to play his windows version with the steam controller, you can simply add the game as an external program and it works fine. I literally just did it. And no, I do not nor have I ever owned XIV on Steam. I logged in with my Windows account.
How to add non-steam game: https://i.imgur.com/fTIBgZf.png
What it looks like in library: https://i.imgur.com/IIFWvba.png
Proof and overlay and controller settings work: https://i.imgur.com/U49POXW.png

Geez you guys... a second of trying instead of hours of raging.

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If you can point me to where it says that windows accounts will be locked out of logging in through steam months ago, I'll accept it.

Also, MANY people bought the game twice to get all of the QoL features from Steam, some of which don't apply when it's a non-steam game. You know, things like access directly to the steam community, guides, chats, and news all from the overlay. Plus chatting with some people over steam is easier to do with the overlay. But go off I guess.

Yup, I had the steam version of ARR to log into my non-steam account for account wide playtime tracking and screenshot handling. This change came out of nowhere, no warning that I saw anywhere.

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Originally Posted by Grodian

Yup, I had the steam version of ARR to log into my non-steam account for account wide playtime tracking and screenshot handling. This change came out of nowhere, no warning that I saw anywhere.

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The first notification went up in the launcher in March this year. Although as others have pointed out it said nothing about affecting non Steam accounts using a Steam version of the game. I've commented several times in the massive thread on the issue since that I didn't like that SE was keeping exceptionally quiet about the whole thing and that, at the very least, such a drastic change deserved and email to Steam users as a bare minimum.

As someone who is also affected by this change, I really hope that SE takes the time to reverse it when they inevitably hotfix the workaround. Very upset about this.

Like others, I use the steam launcher to track play, screenshot handling, etc. I can't speak for others but the only reason I didn't "get the game on steam to begin with" is because I started play in beta. I'm fairly certain there was only a windows launcher and no way to have a steam version for those perks until later. So there's that. As for the whole this change has been known for whatever time, I just play the game and don't meta. I didn't even have a forum name until right now to add a me too on this thread and express my irritation about the matter.

A solution for some people would be: Let us register the steam version on the mogstation, besides the PC version.
If you treat it like a completely different plattform, at least let us register that. Basically the money I paid for the base
game on Steam was a complete waste, as things stand now.

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Originally Posted by andyhunt

A solution for some people would be: Let us register the steam version on the mogstation, besides the PC version.
If you treat it like a completely different plattform, at least let us register that. Basically the money I paid for the base
game on Steam was a complete waste, as things stand now.

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Steam users have been asking to register a normal Windows version of the game along side our steam copy in the Mogstation since March 8 of this year.

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Originally Posted by Lozza

Steam users have been asking to register a normal Windows version of the game along side our steam copy in the Mogstation since March 8 of this year.

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We've been asking a lot longer than that :D

I'd say it's as far back as 2015 when Heavensward was released and we first found out that Steam and non-Steam accounts were going to be be treated differently, even though there was no warning of this when we purchased.

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Originally Posted by worldofneil

We've been asking a lot longer than that :D

I'd say it's as far back as 2015 when Heavensward was released and we first found out that Steam and non-Steam accounts were going to be be treated differently, even though there was no warning of this when we purchased.

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Yes we have, along with requests to remove the region locking. However we do have a massive thread that has been up since March 8 that should have got someone's attention where the earlier small threads were dead and buried after a few days.

If you're not using the Steam version anyway, why not just add the game as a Non-Steam game in Steam?

Bottom left of the Steam window says "+ Add a Game", select add non steam game, select the non steam FFXIV on the list (or browse files for it if it doesn't show up). Doesn't do everything, but you can still use the Steam features like screenshots and whatnot.

I'm running the Windows Version in Steam as a non steam game when i want to broadcast to friends or use the chat feature. I was worried this might affect that ability but it didn't thankfully.

It's annoying, but all you have to do is download the FFXIV launcher from lodestone, download ARR through that and everything will work through that launcher. It took me like 2-3 hours last night to get back into the game.

It's not that big of a deal.

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Originally Posted by Rivxkobe

It's annoying, but all you have to do is download the FFXIV launcher from lodestone, download ARR through that and everything will work through that launcher. It took me like 2-3 hours last night to get back into the game.

It's not that big of a deal.

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As OP said and many others. That's not the issue. The problem is that you are no longer able to use community gamepad profiles, screenshots, broadcasts, track playtime and other features that are included in STEAM.

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Originally Posted by BahamutxD

As OP said and many others. That's not the issue. The problem is that you are no longer able to use community gamepad profiles, screenshots, broadcasts, track playtime and other features that are included in STEAM.

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Yes, exactly. And what's the purpose of locking both to their own islands? Steam account to not allow login with Windows launcher I understand for controlling bots and rmt, don't like it and think there's a better way to handle that.

But to remove the ability of windows accounts to log in with Steam stops what? I would've bought the Steam version of the game when I got into FF14, but It Wasn't An Option when I started playing at the beginning of ARR launch.

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Originally Posted by Connie-

It wasn't really harmless though, people were using it as a way to exploit the game for fraudulent purposes. Sorry that you feel this way, but people were getting hurt because of it.

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That won't solve anything. What will solve is to adopt some kind of game protector. At least nProtect Gameguard, just to say that they're doing something against bots.

Do not feel bad about this to much. It is happening to steam users that use steam too!

I would direct this towards the player base who caused this to be removed not SE.

if they didn't bot or cheat and that's what most steam users do, then this wouldn't of been removed so they ruined it for you.

if that isn't the case considering fraud was mentioned, then those people ruined it for you.

in any case SE has to protect themselves and I am sure they tried to fix it before failed and is why this was the only course of action.

I'm launching the game through steam and even then sometimes when connecting to data center it tells me it doesn't recognize my account, even though the steam client is currently running. Feels like the whole implementation of this is bugged.

This is messing with all legacy players who bought the original game on windows long time ago, and then bought it on steam when it came out. Square is fucking with the people who have been with them since the beginning not kool at all!

1) Thanks SE, you did a better job of waking me up than a cup of Earl Grey. - Saw the message and thought my sub had somehow lapsed and I lost my house. xD

2) Why doesn't SE opt to do what Zenimax did for ESO when they brought it over to Steam. Which is they allowed us to link Steam and replace our 'normal login' credentials with our Steam ones.

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Originally Posted by illutian

1) Thanks SE, you did a better job of waking me up than a cup of Earl Grey. - Saw the message and thought my sub had somehow lapsed and I lost my house. xD

2) Why doesn't SE opt to do what Zenimax did for ESO when they brought it over to Steam. Which is they allowed us to link Steam and replace our 'normal login' credentials with our Steam ones.

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The issue lies here https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/s.../subscriptions

They would still need the Mogstation so there is no real need to do that. F2P/B2P games on STEAM are treated differently when it comes to charging fees from Valve.

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Originally Posted by BahamutxD

The issue lies here https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/s.../subscriptions

They would still need the Mogstation so there is no real need to do that. F2P/B2P games on STEAM are treated differently when it comes to charging fees from Valve.

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Explain this then: https://i.imgur.com/DIlBxCM.png

ESO allows me to sub through Steam....from within the game.

If it's a fee thing, ZeniMax, a company that's a bit sketchy on it's Cash Shop (lol $100 for a house!) seems to think it's worth it.

EDIT: I would classify FF14 as a Buy 2 Play, with a recurring subscription.

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Originally Posted by illutian

Explain this then: https://i.imgur.com/DIlBxCM.png

ESO allows me to sub through Steam....from within the game.

If it's a fee thing, ZeniMax, a company that's a bit sketchy on it's Cash Shop (lol $100 for a house!) seems to think it's worth it.

EDIT: I would classify FF14 as a Buy 2 Play, with a recurring subscription.

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There is nothing to explain, FFXIV and ESO are not comparable cases for the sole reason that one is F2P and the other B2P. STEAM treats them differently.

Theres more on that matter here https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/pricing

The only comparable case in STEAM is FFXI but that doesn't help as it is another SquareEnix tittle using pretty much the same system as FFXIV.

This has prevented me from playing for the last four days now and sadly this is the only game I want to play atm so this is very unfortunate. Whatever the reasons SE chose to do this, even if done to combat a real issue, it was ill-thought for it screwed more of the actual player-base than anything else. Please SE resolve this issue.

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Originally Posted by BahamutxD

There is nothing to explain, FFXIV and ESO are not comparable cases for the sole reason that one is F2P and the other B2P. STEAM treats them differently.

Theres more on that matter here https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/pricing

The only comparable case in STEAM is FFXI but that doesn't help as it is another SquareEnix tittle using pretty much the same system as FFXIV.

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EVE Online also had the game as B2P on Steam years before adopting a 'free2play' with sub option.

Point is, it can be done. Square is choosing not to.

Furthermore, they did a piss-poor job informing us. I sign in and immediately think something happened to my payment options, because the warning is a generic message. I had zero clue this was going on. No emails. No banners (the scrolling ones on the launcher).

I support this petition.
When I originally started playing this game I just joined on steam to play with people I knew were playing. I had no idea the game had a separate version launcher specifically for windows that you didn't have to buy within the steam client.
Over the years, its always been log in with whichever... so I always just used the same account, bought all my expansions, leveled the majority of my classes etc on this square enix account tied to steam. If this had been in effect years ago when I first stated playing, I would have scrapped the account associated with steam and started from 0. Now I have a developed account that is locked into steam, and of course all my mogstation purchases are also locked to this account. I have also added PS4 license to this account. There's a lot of money sitting on an account I don't want to just throw away. However, I get constant DC's when using the steam launcher for no reason. I don't enable steam overlay with any game because its silly and slows everything down.

If this is on account of fraud by playing on windows and returning the game on steam... why did they just no implement some sort of time limit on using either launcher until the steam window of 14 days has expired? Or why isn't there some sort of process to validate that you are regular player, with a legitimate copy of the game, hours of game play, etc etc and simply issue to the mogstation permissions to use both launchers.

I would also pay for both licenses to use either launcher. It seems silly as I'm still playing EITHER launcher on WINDOWS, but if that was what I had to do to prevent fraudulent activity, its not that much to buy a bundled license with all the past expacs included.

It just seems to me that they decided to shaft a dedicated player base with a cheap solution, essentially punishing honest players due to the fraudulent actions of others.

If you'd also like to go to the Feedback forums as well to voice your opinions that'd be great. While this thread is growing in size, it still might not be going down the right corporate track. Though there is no proof that the following link is either, it's best to cover our bases.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...the-Mogstation

I support this petition as a long term FFXIV player who is unable to apply the steam keys they purchased for due to playing windows key variant first. Please allow us for the option to apply both to the same service account. You do this for PS4, why not steam? Did we, or did we not pay for these games SE?

Otherwise, are you willing to offer some form of a recompense for the money we spent for a game, we can no longer use for its intended steam services?

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Originally Posted by BahamutxD

The only comparable case in STEAM is FFXI but that doesn't help as it is another SquareEnix tittle using pretty much the same system as FFXIV.

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But that's exactly why I don't follow.

I stopped playing FFXI (on PS2 and PC and X360) in 2009. In 2017, I felt like getting the ultimate Seekers Collection on Steam. I could reactive my old character on Cerberus from way back when! Yeah, I thought it was deleted but apparently it wasn't. LOL I played about 2 months, then reactived again back in April in order to finish all main storylines (only Seekers of Adoulin remains, I even finished Rhapsodies of Vanad'iel) and get at least PLD to master status.

And it seems that if I wanted to get the Steam version of FFXIV, I couldn't simply log with my current SE account info? I couldn't even register the Steam version? This is nuts.

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Originally Posted by JustJon

Track playtime with /playtime in game... DERP!!

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That isn't the same, and it isn't consolidated on our steam profiles with our other game data. Also, that is just one of the features we lost.