Requiring an active account on Free login weekends is not helpful.

Free login weekends is a great idea for getting players that have left the game to come back and see what is going on, but the idea is hindered by fact that FFXIV:ARR requires players to have an active account with paying subscription to play the game.

So that kind of defeats the purpose of Free login weekend doesn't it?

I would like to see the following done to the game to help back more people and have them stay.

1. Make the launcher to be able to download the game without having to login. What is the harm in letting people download or update the game so that they don't have to wait so long to jump back in?
2. I realize this is harder to do, but... Make the launcher and the game have the ability to only download the beginning areas/items/equipment so that players can jump into the game faster. WoW and SWTOR do this. It's so much easier to get people to jump in and play when they don't have to download the entire game to do it!

I apologize for being off topic but I LOVE your sig lol ^^

Uh, according to the Lodestone you actually don't require an active account to play during a Free Login weekend - in fact, the Lodestone page specifically states to be eligible you need to have an inactive subscription - at is, you had to have registered the game before but let your subscription lapse:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone

Users meeting the following conditions will be able to play FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn free of charge during the upcoming Campaign:

Eligibility
Users who have previously purchased and registered FINAL FANTASY XIV and whose service account is set as inactive during the campaign period.
*Please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV: Mog Station to confirm the status of your service account.

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If you've lost the client you can easily download it again for free (a link is included on the Lodestone, found here).

As for your second idea, that's already available anyway as the Free Trial version which is always available - it indeed has limited functions (level cap restricted to level 20, restrictions on chat functions etc) and can be played free without a subscription for 20 days. This can easily upgraded to a paid version as well.

So really, I don't see what the problem is here.

I'm aware what the Lodestone says, but they are saying they can't join unless they resub. Which kind of defeats the purpose.

Secondly, why do we have to sign in to update? We don't need that kind of hurdle for people wanting to give the game another try?