Heavensward question?

So I can't seem to find an answer to this anywhere. Is the physical copy of Heavensward just an expansion, as in need to also buy the main game, or is it an all in one main game + expansion?

Like, I want to add a license to play on PS4 but if Heavensward will be both the bace game and expansion, I'll wait till it comes out to add. But also thinking about new players, if I want to get some friends to play I would hate to tell them they have to buy the game twice to play in the new content, but if the expansion is an all in one deal, then it would be easy to get them setup and going.

Going by tradition there will be one of 3 possibilities in order of probability from most to least likely:
1) Expansion only, with the base game getting a nice hefty discount on PSN, Steam, etc. leading up to the release.
2) Expansion only with a separate option for a "bundle"
3) Expansion+base game together.

My money is on #1, which is the most common MO for expansion for MMOs.

I could have swore I just saw someone make a thread exactly like this not long ago.

But to answer you question, and expansion is an expansion. It adds to the game, meaning you need to buy the game first, then buy the expansion. At least it'll be that way at first.

Later on, in a year or less they may have FFXIV:ARR + Heavensward as a bundle that comes with the expansion, but I don't think they will right from the start.

Though to be honest I don't see why having that as an option could be a bad thing, so who knows. Maybe they will make a bundle with the two, but it'll likely be just digital only if they did. Too much effort goes into making physical bundles.

Considering they are giving this expansion it's own Collector's Edition physical package, I don't see them doing any physical bundles with ARR just yet.

Both Physical and Digital expansions are just the expansion. You can't play the game if all you have is just the expansion. So yeah, you need to buy FFXIV:ARR, and then buy Heavensward (or buy them both together, doesn't matter).

Basically, Heavensward will not work by itself. It's not some kind of stand-alone game. It just adds a huge amount of new content to the already existing game.

Don't worry about telling your friends they have to buy the game twice, that's not true. But if they don't already have the game (FFXIV:ARR) they will have to buy that and the expansion.

They won't really have to dole out that much money on either if all they want to do is play the game. The only reason to buy the CE's is if you really just want those extra digital items. The items themselves don't really have a huge impact on anything and some only have a really limited use, so it truly isn't anything that important.

If you are playing with a PC Steam sells the game for $24.99. I checked Gamestop and they list the PS4 version at $39.99, but I am sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere if you shop around.

We don't know the price points for the expansion "Heavensward" just yet (or do we?) but I honestly don't expect the plain, non-CE version to cost more than $19.99-$29.99. If it is more than that I would be highly disappointed.