Can I play multiple simultaneous instances of the game on the SAME Windows PC?

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this has been asked before but please bear with me. I have already done my own research and I'm a little bit confused.

What I want to do:
I want to play/start/run multiple instances of the game on the same Windows PC simulatenously. To clarify, I have 1 singular PC, running 1 singular OS (Windows) and I would like to start the game up twice (2 times) and have it open simulatenously, using 2 different characters or accounts each running on different monitors of the SAME PC.

My current understanding:
I have found 2 official resources around this topic:
1. FAQ that I think is most relevant
2. FAQ that confuses me more

Given those sources and a little bit of common sense, I have concluded that:
a) Square Enix does NOT have an issue with players doing this. i.e. Square Enix allows users to run multiple accounts so long as they're licensed and a subscription is paid for each.
b) I can do this in 1 of 2 ways:

1. Create an entirely NEW and SEPARATE Square Enix account, buy the game again on the new account, start the launcher twice on my PC and log in twice with each respective account. In essence, having 2 completely separated accounts in every single way.
2. Create a new, SECONDARY Service Account within my existing Square Enix account. This should then allow me to log into the launcher once and then hopefully start 2 separate game instances and use the Datacentre function to switch between Service Accounts. This is the option that I believe is being alluded to by the first FAQ linq above.

The only reason I am now a tad confused is because:
a) The first FAQ linq mentioned above, does NOT explicitly specify that 3 characters can be played simulatenously on the SAME PC, rather just that it's possible to play 3 characters simulatenously. Furthermore, all the sources I've found hint towards the fact that choosing between 2 separate service account is done within the game menu, via the Datacentre option. This suggests to me that only 1 instance of the game can be started at once on the same PC rather than 2 simultaneous instances.
b) The second FAQ linq mentioned suggests that people in the same household (family), would have to be playing on separate physical PCs AND have separate accounts. This FAQ actually suggests to me that Square Enix may not allow what I want to do at all.

So, with all that said, I know it is long so thanks for taking the time. Now, what did I get right? What did I get wrong? Can I do what I want to do and if so which if any of those options are feasible? If both, which do you think is a better option and why?

Thanks for taking the time! :)

You can have multiple instances of FF14 running on the same machine. I believe the limit is 2 simultaneously, but that might have changed to 3 at some point, I can't confirm. Either way, the launcher will refuse to start/give a warning once you've hit that limit so you can open 2 instances and see if it'll let you try for a 3rd to get your answer. Once an instance is opened, you just change it to windowed, move it to whichever monitor you want it to be on, then change it to borderless windowed to snap it to that monitor.

I cannot confirm or deny if multiple service accounts on the same Square Enix account allows simultaneous play - but the #1 in your conclusions is exactly how one of my friends plays with multiple accounts, by having two entirely separate Square Enix account, each having bought FF14, EW expansion, each with a mogstation subscription, etc. At the very least, I can guarantee that works.

However, there are some cumbersome things regarding using multiple instances on the same machine:

-System configuration is saved locally on a client exit, meaning next time the clients load up, they'll both be using the system configuration from the last client closed. This means if you want to change graphic settings for one client and not the other, you'd have to repeat it every single time you boot them up. This can also be problematic if your monitors are of different resolutions, since it'll cause HUD elements to be more squished/expanded depending. Effectively, you'd have to figure out a universal settings list for your system configuration you'd be fine using for all clients involved.
-If your purpose is to have a family member/a friend/significant other/etc playing with you simultaneously, I think controls will be a huge issue, since I don't believe FF14 has the ability to detect multiple mice/keyboards and individually assign them to separate clients. But I have no idea on this front, so you'd have to look into this if that is your intention / someone can confirm/deny for me. If you just want to have two accounts open and alt tab between them, this isn't a problem.

I don't see a problem with this. Assuming your PC can handle it. I don't know if there's a solution to run the left monitor with a different input than the right (meaning two controllers or keyboard/mouse).

First time I’ve seen this asked. Is it allowed in ToS?

Thank you all for the replies, I think I will probably stick with my conclusion #1 and get 2 completely separate accounts as per:

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Originally Posted by Daeriion_Aeradiir

- but the #1 in your conclusions is exactly how one of my friends plays with multiple accounts, by having two entirely separate Square Enix account, each having bought FF14, EW expansion, each with a mogstation subscription, etc. At the very least, I can guarantee that works.

However, there are some cumbersome things regarding using multiple instances on the same machine:

-System configuration is saved locally on a client exit, meaning next time the clients load up, they'll both be using the system configuration from the last client closed.

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I will also keep an eye out for the config, thanks for pointing that out ^^

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Originally Posted by AngelCheese77

First time I’ve seen this asked. Is it allowed in ToS?

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I am still a lil bit fuzzy on this too, but SE's own FAQ (as per the links provided, first link in particular) seems to suggest that it is. To be honest, I can't think why they'd have an issue with this anyways, if it's all paid for, I doubt they don't want the extra money haha.

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Originally Posted by dspguy

I don't see a problem with this. Assuming your PC can handle it. I don't know if there's a solution to run the left monitor with a different input than the right (meaning two controllers or keyboard/mouse).

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As for controller usage, I'll be fine as both accounts would be for me and would be alternated between. Quite honestly mostly for trading reasons.

If anyone else happens to stumble on this and knows more about the multiple service accounts situtation, I'd still be very curious to know how/if that works :)

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Originally Posted by empyreanfox

[*]Create a new, SECONDARY Service Account within my existing Square Enix account. This should then allow me to log into the launcher once and then hopefully start 2 separate game instances and use the Datacentre function to switch between Service Accounts. This is the option that I believe is being alluded to by the first FAQ linq above.

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Switching Data Centres does not switch service accounts. The two instances of the game would need to be logged into two separate service accounts and they would maintain that.
So outside the free trial, you would be paying for the game twice and paying for the monthly fees twice to accomplish your goal.

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Originally Posted by AngelCheese77

First time I’ve seen this asked. Is it allowed in ToS?

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Multiboxing has been okay since XI.
While there's whatever limit they put on running the program to 2 on PC, there's no problem in paying for 2 games, and running them both.

Fascinatingly, at the time of "The Billboards" A number of high power legal teams all put out youtube videos where they completely digested every single part of the ToS.

I learned two relevant bits of info.

You can have TWO operations of two separate accounts (you have to pay double) on one computer at the same time.

You can ONLY have one person per ps5. If somebody else wants to play on your PS5, they can't.

Yeah, you can just run FFXIV twice to multibox on 2 characters.

If multiple service accounts are in the same square enix account, you will always see a box to select which one you want to use every time you select a datacenter, whether or not you are multiboxing.

You can definitely play on 2 instances using a single Square Enix account with 2 FFXIV service accounts. First, launch FFXIV, choose your datacenter, then it will ask which service account you want to use. Pick a service account, then login with your character is usual. Then open up the second window. Choose a datacenter, select your second service account, and pick a character. You now have both accounts logged in. After both instances of FFXIV are logged in to their respective service accounts, you can freely change characters within the same datacenter by logging out and then just clicking start. Each FFXIV window will remember which service account it was logged in to.

Make sure to avoid logging in to the same service account on the two instances. Doing so will invalidate the login credentials for the first instance. You will then have to close that instance and open ffxiv again.

I know that you can run two instances of the game at once on a single PC, I have done this myself with having the One SE account and having FFXIV 1 and FFXIV 2, you get asked to select which game account to login at the title screen or when you click on Datacenter button, once you login one, simply load up a second instance and then at the title screen select the other account and log it in.

But, from my knowledge, you can't play two characters-thus accounts, at once on the same PC, as in automation for one character, because its not possible to control two characters at once without automation, switching screens to move one obviously isn't automation, and is what I do when I use two. I basically only use the second account to trade items with, craft and retainers, and run through dungeons with the second on follow while I use my main to Unsync story stuff, so I'm not playing both at once. It's just handy to move items, and it's also my husband's character/account that he used on his PC so you can also play two or more game accounts on different PC's within the one SE account and be logged in at the same time etc.

As long as you don't use automation you will be fine.

And to note, you can't load more than 2 instances of the game at once on a single PC, if you try, it will stop the first instance and close it.

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Originally Posted by Pablomaldito

You can definitely play on 2 instances using a single Square Enix account with 2 FFXIV service accounts. First, launch FFXIV, choose your datacenter, then it will ask which service account you want to use. Pick a service account, then login with your character is usual. Then open up the second window. Choose a datacenter, select your second service account, and pick a character. You now have both accounts logged in. After both instances of FFXIV are logged in to their respective service accounts, you can freely change characters within the same datacenter by logging out and then just clicking start. Each FFXIV window will remember which service account it was logged in to

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Hey even I learned something today, neat!
Though seems functionally the same as two separate SE accounts but you only have one login credential to remember.

I don't see anything in the TOS that says you can't multibox. I see something that says you can't share your login info with others. That's likely in there to prevent the situation where someone you shared your info with breaks the TOS on your account - and you pay the price.

Set up a VM. You can run several VMs on the same box and they don't know about each other because they are running on separate OSs...

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Originally Posted by dspguy

I don't see anything in the TOS that says you can't multibox. I see something that says you can't share your login info with others. That's likely in there to prevent the situation where someone you shared your info with breaks the TOS on your account - and you pay the price.

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It was in there.
It took more then an hour to read aloud and translate the entire TOS. There's 4 differnt pages and files that are part of it. They HIDE parts of it from you unless you read carefully.

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Originally Posted by Roxxors

Set up a VM. You can run several VMs on the same box and they don't know about each other because they are running on separate OSs...

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Aye, just make sure in the VM manager you allocate resources effectively or good luck kupo <3 lol

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Originally Posted by ICountFrom0

It was in there.
It took more then an hour to read aloud and translate the entire TOS. There's 4 differnt pages and files that are part of it. They HIDE parts of it from you unless you read carefully.

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I googled FFXIV TOS - found some text on SE's site, perused it - nothing jumped out at me about a ban on multi-boxing. It doesn't mean it isn't in there. I just didn't see it. Nor could I see what the problem would be with it. If there is a Japanese version of the TOS that has more restrictions, SE should really just translate it themselves into various languages.