Please allow us to register Steam as another platform on the Mogstation

With today's changes, I cannot log into Steam using the launcher that I had paid for because the Mogstation lockout is keeping me from playing the game through Steam as intended.

If Steam were added to the list of platforms in the same way as Mac and PlayStation 4 have been, then I could actually register the keys that I purchased through Steam and play the game the way I have been playing it for the past 3 years.

As of the time of this writing, only people in my situation do not have a workaround, while the intended target of the login change is widely unaffected. Below is the announcement made back in march.

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[Important]Regarding FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam Version (Mar. 8) (Updated: Mar. 13 11:05 p.m. PDT)

As part of our fraud prevention measures, we plan to implement a restricted login check process for Steam service account users.

[Affected]
FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam Version

[Changes]
Current:
FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam version clients can currently be opened directly without going through the Steam application and is possible to use the regular Windows version client application for Steam version service accounts.

After the change:
For Steam version service accounts, the FINAL FANTASY XIV client application will need to be started up from the Steam application's Play button. Any other method of direct startup will no longer be available.

[Time and Date of Implementation]
Late March 2019 (tentative)

*Update Mar. 13, 2019 11:05 p.m. (PDT):
Due to a confirmed bug, implementation that was tentatively scheduled for late March will now be delayed until April or after. We will let you know as soon as a date is confirmed.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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The red highlight is for emphasis and that particular method of logging in is still possible. The change literally has no effect on the intended demographic.

Steam users can still launch the game without using the Steam play button and circumvent all of the Steam features.

Those who purchased both a Windows version and a Steam version cannot launch the game through Steam as intended by the launcher function and have the same access to all of Steam's features that they have paid for because of the arbitrary exclusivity of the Windows / Steam versions on the Mog Station.

The proposed policy change would not only increase revenue but would reinstate functionality to the unintended target of the changes.

Here are two different use scenarios who would welcome the ability to add Steam as another optional platform.

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Originally Posted by Grodian

I completely support an option to add game keys for Steam or non-steam Windows to FF14 accounts.

I know others have had issues with it, but I've had zero issues with the Steam client or overlay in regards to playing FF14 and have been happily using the Steam version of the launcher to log into my FF14 windows account since I bought an additional steam version of the game in 2015. I've used the steam version of the game for over 3000 hours in that time and losing the ability to play the Steam version specifically, thus being denied the steam account integration and community features that Steam provides to users is a real kick in the pants when the change was in no way communicated that users in my specific situation would be impacted at all.

If the option were available, I would instantly add the steam key to my mogstation FF14 account if I could then successfully log into the game using the Steam FF14 Launcher.

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Originally Posted by CrystalChrome

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.

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Originally Posted by Rhomagus

Steam users can still launch the game without using the Steam play button and circumvent all of the Steam features.

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No, we can't. I'm currently redownloading 50 gb for hours, because of that.

I'm redownloading and praying that this is all it takes to be able to play again. This has been the biggest pain in the ass.

I have paid for both a Windows version and the Steam version of the game. Since I have been locked out of registering my Steam version, I was able to use my Steam version to launch through Steam. I am currently looking for various methods as how to regain my Steam functionality that I paid for back. Even so far as contacting support about possibly moving my characters to a Steam registered account.

Below is my latest interaction with Square Enix's customer support:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...nteraction.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_2.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_3.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_4.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_5.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_6.png
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...eraction_7.png

Needless to say this is incredibly disheartening that there is no recourse for players affected by the recent changes to the login procedures made on August 29, 2019.

There are many posts on several different internet platforms that have echoed my predicament. If the number of affected legitimate users is small, that's even more of a reason to be able to either offer specialized support or monetary compensation. If the number of effected legitimate users is high, I would behoove SE to implement the proposed change in policy so that both consumer and producer are fairly compensated.

As is referenced in the OP, the change for Windows registered users who had also purchased the Steam client in order to launch the game was not outlined or mentioned at all. The implementation of the patch is currently leading to downtime from accessing the game through the Steam platform in it's intended manner for the affected users.

As I've said before in the Steam forums... They should give an avenue to make use of an unused steam key. While I'm just fine with them solidifying their silly platform barrier between Windows and Steam, they should in turn, permit you to treat them like every other platform, as in: Let you have both tied to the account, with all the requirements that entails.

I'm glad someone is posting a first-hand interaction with SE customer support so that other people might finally start understanding how archaic and terrible it is.

There is most certainly someone somewhere that can easily move a character to another account with probably even just a couple mouse clicks. Anyone from any MMO that claims they don't have the power to manipulate something within their own game is either lying to push you off or clueless.

I don't know what kind of hierarchy they have within SE's support structure, but they will do literally everything in their power to tell you that there is no one higher up than the most base-level representative and that no one else can help you, and then just close the chat on you if you continue to insist to speak to someone else. Despite this, I have personally interacted with higher-ups that solved certain technical account issues within minutes when I got bounced between multiple "support agents" for literally days at a time, seemingly passed on to them at random without any word that my issue would be escalated.

As far as the Steam/Windows account issue: Yet another case of SE's mindboggling lack of foresight. To be honest, I think they just do a lot of things for the sake of seeing what happens.

Im redownloading the game for windows, had it on steam with 2600 hours played... now i can't keep count of my played hours anymore.... thanks i guess, will just run the game trough steam as a non steam client to keep the overlay.

So at this point it is still permanent and you are unable to play, correct, Rhomagus?

i had the same issue, i started play FFXIV way early than Steam version was announced, i got my copy at SQEX Store. When Steam version released i got a copy there and it was a waste of money, i tried to contact the support and they said me it was impossible to apply Steam options in account or transfer my character. i just gave up, they are not going to change this politics ( i don't know why that kind of stuff is even there to begin with ).

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Originally Posted by RenAndRose

So at this point it is still permanent and you are unable to play, correct, Rhomagus?

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I am unable to play through the Steam platform as intended, even though I purchased a Steam key and have over a thousand hours logged through Steam playing the game.

So if I understand the issue correctly:

People that bought two PC versions of the game (steam and non steam) can now only access the non steam version because it automatically takes precedence over the steam version?

If so, a simple toggle akin To Blizzards WoW-Version toggle for the user would solve the problem.
Hefty mistake by SE though, I'd certainly be pretty pissed off if I couldn't access my account any longer.
This should never have gone live in a state like this.

I'm having the same issue and SE has given me issues with this game in the past. She claims in that response that SE is always looking to improve customer service but sadly they are responding the same way to you the way they did to me a year ago. And it was because of their terrible way the subscription service and mog station is set up. I have spent hours upon hours building this character and others and now I can't even log in to play the game I have spent much more than just purchasing to play. And they do nothing to fix it. Caring would be a start SE on how to improve you customer service. I just purchased the expansion on this account too. Very disappointed SE.

I am also affected by this change that was not documented or announced in any fashion that I can see until it was implemented on August 29th.

I now have a steam copy of FFXIV ARR that I am unable to use for logging into my active account despite doing so unimpeded for 3000 hours of gameplay since 2015.

I am so confused. Why did so many people buy they game a second time on steam? Was getting the steam overlay really that important? Or is there something I'm missing?

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Originally Posted by spf1200

I am so confused. Why did so many people buy they game a second time on steam? Was getting the steam overlay really that important? Or is there something I'm missing?

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I did it because I'm logged into Steam whenever I'm on my PC. I'm a member of a pretty active group and am in the Steam group chatroom there 100% of the time. I enjoyed having FF14 show up on my Steam Account with no "add non-steam game" work required. Add in the screenshot management and it just . I also have a forum sig I use on some places that shows what I'm currently playing on steam as well as showing the 2-week metrics that steam keeps on official steam games (it doesn't track any historical playtime for non-steam games).

It wasn't a critical need, but it was a fair number of little convenience and presentation features. Add in that the base game was just $20 and it was pretty easy to go for it.

Updated original post.

Also:

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Originally Posted by Kitsui

No, we can't. I'm currently redownloading 50 gb for hours, because of that.

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Yes you can, if you search reddit there is already a workaround for Steam users to login outside of Steam.

I have not been pleased with this recent change. I have been playing FFXIV long before steam variant. I've been periodically purchasing steam expansions to show my support, while using the steam version to track my hours, screenshots and use other various steam features with FFXIV. Please allow us to apply our steam FFXIV keys to our windows key FFXIV account... like we can... PS4? MAC? otherwise it feels like you took our money was taken and we were denied a service we rightfully paid for. Many of us are veteran players and this doesn't feel like something we should have to go through, especially after paying for the game on several platforms. We are some of your biggest fans :(

I'm copying my post from another thread but figured I'd post here too so our voices can be heard!

I was a 1.0 player, when ARR was announced on Steam I relished the thought of playing it again on the platform of my choice because it could keep track of hours, screenshots, etc. At the time I bought ARR on Steam and I added the ARR key to my old 1.0 account not thinking something like this would ever happen. Because of that, my account is just considered a "Windows" account and I cannot continue to use Steam like I have been the last 4 years or so. Square please reconsider this change, allow people to have the choice of using Steam or not.

A better solution would simply be for Square to allow us to link our primary service accounts to Steam. Like, you know, virtually every other MMO that has a Steam and non-Steam client. That's the clean/neat and best option, after all.

Unfortunately my partner and I are part of the subset of players who bought FFXIV on release and before it was on Steam, but prefer to launch FFXIV from Steam (screenshots, overlay, hours, etc--reasons are largely immaterial).

What possibly possessed Square to stuff something up that was never broken is beyond my understanding, but clearly the current 'policy' is draconian at best and an outright cash-grab at worst that forces players who want to use Steam to top up their Steam service account. The mind boggles.

And while workarounds exist, I'd love to know why players have to resort to using them for something so maddeningly simple.

Square, really, this is not how you endear your players to you.

I am incredibility upset with this recent update. I got the game for free through twitch and decided to buy it on steam so I could track my hours and manage screen shots. I play between a laptop and a desktop and it's easier to manage the game through steam across two computers for me. I paid for this service so I believe we should have the feature back or be compensated preferably the latter.

Have Squarenix ever explained why the change was needed?