Clarification on what you get when buying FF14 on the SE Store

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11-13-2021, 05:15 AM
Krojack

Clarification on what you get when buying FF14 on the SE Store

So I was looking at everything on the SE store and it just doesn't seem very clear on what you get when you buy the various parts of the game.

To start, the Complete Edition includes ARR, HW, SB, and ShB. It's on sale for $23.99
Then we have Endwalker which includes SB and ShB BUT requires you to already own Online Starter Edition (A Realm Reborn).

Now if you go and look at the details for the Starter Edition, one part seems to claim it includes 3.x content which is Heavensward but another part seems to show Heavensward is NOT included with the starter edition.

This image is currently on the SE store site for the starter edition. It's under product details.
https://cdn-prod.scalefast.com/publi...db904c3b2b.jpg

It seems to make it appear as if Heavensward is not included with the starter edition.

So what is it? Does the starter edition include Heavensward or not? If it's included then it's a better deal for people to buy the starter edition and pre-order Endwalker than buy that complete edition and buy Endwalker.
11-13-2021, 05:19 AM
Siouxy

Starter Edition - the descriptions says:
For newcomers to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, this edition includes two award-winning titles – FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, and the first expansion, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward.
11-13-2021, 05:24 AM
Krojack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siouxy

Starter Edition - the descriptions says:
For newcomers to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, this edition includes two award-winning titles – FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, and the first expansion, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward.

Then they need to update their image as well because it's confusing.

IMO simple images like the one in my first post make selling things such as this package more clear to consumers and easier to understand. SE needs to update this.
11-13-2021, 05:32 AM
Krojack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setesh45

It does, under the features tab it says:
"All Heavensward content additions and main scenario updates with an array of dungeons, trials, side-quests and more: 3.1 - As Goes Light So Goes Darkness, 3.2 - The Gears of Change, 3.3 - Revenge of the Horde, 3.4 - Soul Surrender and 3.5 - The Far Edge of Fate"

You may have found an outdated picture, report it. :)

Click on the "Product Details" tab for the Starter Edition. That's the image.
What you pasted is what I was referring to when I said that it seems to say it includes 3.x.
11-13-2021, 07:31 AM
Jeeqbit

The starter edition includes ARR and Heavensward. It only does two things compared to the free trial. The first is to remove the trial restrictions and the second is to give you a month's free subscription (because it costs about the same amount as a subscription).

It used to only include ARR, so it obviously wasn't updated.
11-13-2021, 01:48 PM
MaethusXion

Wouldn't you still be missing Stormblood and Shadowbringers if you did Starter + Endwalker?
11-13-2021, 01:51 PM
DrWho2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaethusXion

Wouldn't you still be missing Stormblood and Shadowbringers if you did Starter + Endwalker?

That is correct. Until Endwalker releases this combination will only give you ARR+HW+EW Early Access.

You want the best deal for your buck if you're completely new, wait until EW releases then just get the next Complete Edition.
11-13-2021, 03:55 PM
Jeeqbit

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaethusXion

Wouldn't you still be missing Stormblood and Shadowbringers if you did Starter + Endwalker?

If you get Endwalker, then you also get Stormblood and Shadowbringers when Endwalker releases. This is a problem for people who get this combination and then discover they also have to buy Shadowbringers to progress to Stormblood before Endwalker releases, so what I recommend now is always Complete + Endwalker unless it's really close to Endwalker release like it is now.
11-13-2021, 04:19 PM
Iscah

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaethusXion

Wouldn't you still be missing Stormblood and Shadowbringers if you did Starter + Endwalker?

Buying "an expansion" unlocks all the expansions below it. So buying "Endwalker" is actually buying Stormblood + Shadowbringers + Endwalker. (And Heavensward as well, if it wasn't already added to the base game.)
11-13-2021, 04:30 PM
van_arn

I really don't understand why the starter edition even exists when we have such a good free trial. Just free trial + expansion should be more than enough SKUs in a sensible world.
11-13-2021, 05:47 PM
Xerkrosis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iscah

Buying "an expansion" unlocks all the expansions below it. So buying "Endwalker" is actually buying Stormblood + Shadowbringers + Endwalker. (And Heavensward as well, if it wasn't already added to the base game.)

But you only unlock SB, ShB and EW once you get the key for EW. Until EW releases, you only get EW-preorder-key, which doesn't have the expansions.
11-13-2021, 05:53 PM
Iscah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerkrosis

But you only unlock SB, ShB and EW once you get the key for EW. Until EW releases, you only get EW-preorder-key, which doesn't have the expansions.

Yes, but the question was whether you'd be still missing the middle expansions if you just bought the base game and Endwalker. And the answer to that specific question is no.
11-13-2021, 07:34 PM
linayar

Quote:

Originally Posted by van_arn

I really don't understand why the starter edition even exists when we have such a good free trial. Just free trial + expansion should be more than enough SKUs in a sensible world.

Starter edition removes the free trial restrictions, as good as the free trial is.

I suppose you could say that people should just buy the Complete edition once they want to commit beyond the free trial, but if they're near an expansion launch and want to be out of the free trial, but don't need to do post-Starter edition content yet, it's probably cheaper to buy the Starter edition and then wait for the new expansion to buy the rest.
11-13-2021, 08:31 PM
Phaty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerkrosis

But you only unlock SB, ShB and EW once you get the key for EW. Until EW releases, you only get EW-preorder-key, which doesn't have the expansions.

You can bypass the release date and request the key and pre-order bonuses immediately. You forfeit any refund doing that tho
11-13-2021, 08:33 PM
Phaty

Quote:

Originally Posted by linayar

Starter edition removes the free trial restrictions, as good as the free trial is.

I suppose you could say that people should just buy the Complete edition once they want to commit beyond the free trial, but if they're near an expansion launch and want to be out of the free trial, but don't need to do post-Starter edition content yet, it's probably cheaper to buy the Starter edition and then wait for the new expansion to buy the rest.

Starter edition can also be used for recruit mounts and bonuses
11-13-2021, 11:28 PM
Jeeqbit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaty

You can bypass the release date and request the key and pre-order bonuses immediately. You forfeit any refund doing that tho

Oh, really? Because if that is true I would want to pass on this information to new players so they can send in these requests.
11-14-2021, 05:12 AM
Ronduwil

This is one area where Blizzard excels. They always just have two basic offerings: the the latest expansion, and everything up to it. Also, you can download it to whatever supported device you're playing from. There's none of this nonsense with having to buy a copy per platform or having to purchase previous expansions.