Pre-order question

Does buying/applying a pre-order early access w/e code, in order to acquire the earrings, also automatically register the expansion to your account? Or is there a follow-up code or whatever later to apply for the whole expansion?

I vaguely seem to recall it is the latter, but wanted to confirm. Basically, not itching to get into EW content and would maybe sorta like being stuck at level cap 80 for a while, but the earrings could come in handy..

There's a grace period. The pre-order code alone will grant you full access till the 10th. Then you'd either need to enter the full code or lose expansion access. Recommend against intentionally limiting experience.

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Originally Posted by EveK

Recommend against intentionally limiting experience.

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Bah. I spent a long time capped at 50 doing ARR stuff before moving on to HW. If I'm not getting into 80+ content, I don't need to be leveling beyond 80.

Hmmm, I put my code in, got the pre-order items and mogsation says I am registered for EW.... hmmm, double checked and it ONLY says "EW Early Access." You mean they are going to send me another code? Makes no sense, if one is registered for early access, one should be registered for the full game, no? Double checked the mail I got, they sent an activation code, and that was for the purpose of buying the expansion.

We know early access is the 3rd. I hear folk say there will be a 24 hour maintenance, and that during that period game assets can be downloaded. Does that mean that time period starts the day before?

Yes, the first code is for the pre-order items and early access and the second code is for Endwalker itself. You get the second code around the time of release.

Hrm. I do sorta want the exp boost earrings... but it could easily be a year or more before I actually want to move on with MSQ... maybe I'll just wait on the whole thing and not risk a code expiring or something. Either that or register and just not do story. But that doesn't seem as tidy as having everything done that I can while capped at 80...

You can register the code and just not do the story.

The exp boost earrings aren't that important. Experience is not hard to get in this game and there are many other experience boosts, such as the armory bonus, the bozjan earring, the brand-new ring, the heat of battle free company buff and food.

If you think you will take two years to get to EW, by then a new expansion will be on the way and EW will come free with it, so unless you are getting it to access an older expansion like Stormblood, there isn't much point if you are planning to be that slow with the MSQ.

As for why there are two codes, there are many situations where customers are entitled to cancel pre-orders. So without requiring a second code that is only unlocked when the expansion is fully paid for, customers could effectively steal the expansion for nothing more than a $5 deposit some retailers require for a pre-order (or even entirely for free if they cancel the pre-order rather than simply failing to pick it up upon release). Even with orders directly from the Square-Enix store, they only in the last few days actually charged the accounts for the pre-orders.

if i cancel my preorder what might happend to my account and also the earring i get when i preoder it.....

Nothing. You keep the earring and the account. You just won't keep Endwalker access after the 10th.

I really wish they'd let you active the second key (and then void your return) now already, to give access to Stormblood and Shadowbringers. I have a situation where my trusty old Mac broke down, but not replacing it right away. I have Endwalker already on pre-order for Mac version, but figured I'd buy the Windows license so I can play on an old PC I have for now.
Well, until Dec 3rd I can't even login, since my char is parked in an expansion zone, and I only have ARR+HW Windows-license registered to the Windows account, even though I paid for it. Annoying to say the least.

You paid specifically to get it starting on December 3. If you had paid to have it before then, that would have involved purchasing the Shadowbringers expansion for an additional $40 (less if discounted).

Well, I have paid for it Shadowbringers and every expansion before that, just not for Windows. So now I’m stuck not being able to play the game until Dec 3rd. I would have been happy to level a 2nd profession or anything until 3rd, but completely blocked is just silly (it didn’t use to be like this btw)

So it’s three-fold ridiculous really:
1. You have to pay double for Windows and MacOS (unlike any other MMO, at least the sub is shared)
2. You can’t even login to your char if he’s in an expansion zone you don’t own on that platform)
3. It would have been a nice gesture by SE so that when you did buy the expansion you’d get access to the previous ones right away instead of on Dec 3rd.

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Originally Posted by Jeaz

Well, I have paid for it Shadowbringers and every expansion before that

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To clarify, no, you have purchased a license to play the game on a particular platform. That license does not transfer to other platforms.

How about you read the entire sentence.. jeez. I know how things are, as you’d know if you read the entire post. Just saying it’s ridiculous that it is as it is, especially when it can result in you getting locked out of your account as I am now. I’m sorry, didn’t mean to suggest there’s improvements to be made.

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Originally Posted by Jeaz

(it didn’t use to be like this btw)

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It has always been like this. Since the introduction of Heavensward, we've always been unable to log in on platform A if our characters were logged out on platform B in an expansion area that only platform B had access to.