[Suggestion] Steam + Windows purchase

The Steam Machine has been in the news recently, and it looks like many people may adopt it as a living room console option. A lot of players already use PC, and it would be great if we didn’t have to modify the Steam Machine’s operating system just to keep playing Final Fantasy XIV. Allowing players to purchase both the Steam and Windows versions together would also make the game more accessible across SteamOS devices and similar platform.

That would be nice, I requested they let us buy and link the steam version if we already had the windows version and I wasn't even requesting they just include the expansions but that got shot down. Made little sense to me as they would still make money from it.

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Originally Posted by yemonaid53

The Steam Machine has been in the news recently, and it looks like many people may adopt it as a living room console option. A lot of players already use PC, and it would be great if we didn’t have to modify the Steam Machine’s operating system just to keep playing Final Fantasy XIV. Allowing players to purchase both the Steam and Windows versions together would also make the game more accessible across SteamOS devices and similar platform.

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But Steam version of FFXIV runs on Linux.

...You guys are modifying SteamOS to play on it?

Worked out of the box for me on the Deck, which is saying a lot.

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Originally Posted by NegativeS

...You guys are modifying SteamOS to play on it?

Worked out of the box for me on the Deck, which is saying a lot.

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You have to mod the files if you own the PC version. But even then it's a massive hassle. If you own the Steam version you don't have to do anything.

you know you can buy it on steam and download the windows client outside steam to logon, you dont have to use the steam client with your key only is required to buy the game right? they key is linked to your account not to steam, so with the login info you can install the game outside steam you just have to buy expansions and stuff on steam

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

you know you can buy it on steam and download the windows client outside steam to logon, you dont have to use the steam client with your key only is required to buy the game right? they key is linked to your account not to steam, so with the login info you can install the game outside steam you just have to buy expansions and stuff on steam

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You cannot own a PC version and Steam version on the same account. So if you already have your character on the PC version, you're wasting your money on buying a Steam version.

The Square-Enix account system does not allow PC and Steam to exist on the same account. It has been complained about for over a decade.

The confusion in this thread seems to mostly be around the versions of the game so to go over the differences quick:

• PC/Windows - This is the version bought directly from Square Enix. This requires downloading the game client from SE directly and is only officially supported on Windows. People who own this version cannot play the game on Steam OS through official means.
• Steam - This is the version bought through Steam. This version can run on Windows and Steam OS via Proton.

It would be really nice if XIV had a Linux launcher that just ran it via Proton like the Steam version already does so that those with the PC/Windows versions could also play on SteamOS.

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Originally Posted by Veritas-Ancora

You cannot own a PC version and Steam version on the same account. So if you already have your character on the PC version, you're wasting your money on buying a Steam version.

The Square-Enix account system does not allow PC and Steam to exist on the same account. It has been complained about for over a decade.

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because its the same thing both are on a computer, mac is a different os but what i was saying is you can do all your payments on steam and not use steam to run the game, if you wanted to you can download the client outstide of the steam to play is all i was saying which is kind of ya, you just have to use steam to buy it is all

And that's dumb. Why should I go through all the hassle on installing FFXIV outside of Steam on a Steam Deck or Machine when it's already in the Steam app. Let me use my account on the Steam version instead of me having to go through all these hoops to try to play a game that I paid for. Honestly this game isn't worth going through all that hassle. I already get a CD key when I buy it on Steam so I should be able to apply it to my account the same way I can apply the PS5/Xbox keys to.
There's no reason that out of all the options we have to play the game that a single one is being singled out from the account.

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Originally Posted by Veritas-Ancora

You have to mod the files if you own the PC version. But even then it's a massive hassle. If you own the Steam version you don't have to do anything.

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Ah, wait, I think I'm thinking of something else.

Yes, an official Linux non-steam install would be pretty nice to have.

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Originally Posted by jackass1203

And that's dumb. Why should I go through all the hassle on installing FFXIV outside of Steam on a Steam Deck or Machine when it's already in the Steam app. Let me use my account on the Steam version instead of me having to go through all these hoops to try to play a game that I paid for. Honestly this game isn't worth going through all that hassle. I already get a CD key when I buy it on Steam so I should be able to apply it to my account the same way I can apply the PS5/Xbox keys to.
There's no reason that out of all the options we have to play the game that a single one is being singled out from the account.

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I agree with you.

It's a two-fold problem:
- Square-Enix not allowing simultaneous purchases of both Steam and PC on the same key, and
- Steam/Valve being greedy AF.

I don't know if Steam being greedy has anything to do with it. I think it might have something to do with Square wanting to separate all the keys instead of just having a single purchase be usable on all platforms.
I think a quick fix would be adding a Steam option in your main account on the Mogstation the same way how there's a Windows, Mac, PS5 and Xbox version on it. That way they could have all options be playable.
I think if they don't do something to allow it to be played on Steam natively by the time the Steam Machine comes out then it might be a major loss for them. I'd imagine a good amount of people would purchase a Steam Machine to play in the living room if they don't like to play consoles.

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Originally Posted by Veritas-Ancora

I agree with you.

It's a two-fold problem:
- Square-Enix not allowing simultaneous purchases of both Steam and PC on the same key, and
- Steam/Valve being greedy AF.

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I probably shouldn't say this since its kinda mean, but at same time I think it needs to be said..

Do a little research before you buy something. If you have it on Steam, you can transfer it to Steam Deck at any time, due to how it works. Honestly, its weird for me to even think of that considering my ugh purchase history of non-game stuff but there comes a point where the only one to blame is yourself for not reading up before you buy. I dont think we can blame Steam or se in this case, because if you looked into it for 5 minutes, you would realize how it works and see the way to get what your after, [again i am personally guility of this not in games but with my um stuff irl. if you buy on steam u can play on windows with a window key, so if you think even for an hour you might use a steam deck don't buy a windows key. Again i am saying this not only to people on the game but in general it sucks but a little reading prebuy will save you, if we dont do that then its our fault

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

I probably shouldn't say this since its kinda mean, but at same time I think it needs to be said..

Do a little research before you buy something. If you have it on Steam, you can transfer it to Steam Deck at any time, due to how it works. Honestly, its weird for me to even think of that considering my ugh purchase history of non-game stuff but there comes a point where the only one to blame is yourself for not reading up before you buy. I dont think we can blame Steam or se in this case, because if you looked into it for 5 minutes, you would realize how it works and see the way to get what your after, [again i am personally guility of this not in games but with my um stuff irl. if you buy on steam u can play on windows with a window key, so if you think even for an hour you might use a steam deck don't buy a windows key. Again i am saying this not only to people on the game but in general it sucks but a little reading prebuy will save you, if we dont do that then its our fault

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Asking the average player if your game from Windows can be played on your Steam Deck just from buying it on there is disingenuous. I myself have been playing more on the Steam Deck than I have on my PC lately and I bought it on the Steam Deck just to find out that I can't use it. Mind you I don't really care anymore. But to say that people have to research if their original account can accept a Steam CD Key is utter horsecrap. It's not my responsibility to double check if all the dots match. If Square or Steam wants to play that game then they need to put on their storepage that if you currently have an account with FF14 then when you purchase a Steam product that you need to make a new account.

Do you really think that the average consumer sees something on a storefront for another platform when you can play your same account when every other platform is cross compatible? This doesn't just go with FF14 but also other games like Guild Wars 2 I've heard that you have to purchase another key for that as well although I haven't tested it out.

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

I probably shouldn't say this since its kinda mean, but at same time I think it needs to be said..

Do a little research before you buy something. If you have it on Steam, you can transfer it to Steam Deck at any time, due to how it works. Honestly, its weird for me to even think of that considering my ugh purchase history of non-game stuff but there comes a point where the only one to blame is yourself for not reading up before you buy. I dont think we can blame Steam or se in this case, because if you looked into it for 5 minutes, you would realize how it works and see the way to get what your after, [again i am personally guility of this not in games but with my um stuff irl. if you buy on steam u can play on windows with a window key, so if you think even for an hour you might use a steam deck don't buy a windows key. Again i am saying this not only to people on the game but in general it sucks but a little reading prebuy will save you, if we dont do that then its our fault

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This is victim blaming.
Full stop.

Nobody spends time researching a game you expect to be playable on all platforms. It isn't common sense. It is the opposite of common sense -- not being able to play on both platforms is befuddling and silly.

I know plenty of Steam players who regret getting XIV on Steam because they got the game on a deal and now every time the Steam servers go down, so does their XIV.

I also know plenty of PC players who bought the game and are confused why their simple sign-on system on PC doesn't work on a Steam platform.

This is a nightmare for no good reason and blaming the player is nonsensical.

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

because its the same thing both are on a computer, mac is a different os but what i was saying is you can do all your payments on steam and not use steam to run the game, if you wanted to you can download the client outstide of the steam to play is all i was saying which is kind of ya, you just have to use steam to buy it is all

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well, with upcoming steam machine and xbox, steam is becoming essentially console software