What are the Chances FFXIV will go F2P?

[kukurumei]

The FF14 staff honestly just isn't cut out for f2p. F2P is very competitive and need very experienced veterans to get profitable. It's very not easy and honestly harder the subscription based games these days.

There is just no one in SE that has that experience, or the infrastructure. Heck just look at their payment system.

[geniusprime]

People are saying that the game cannot, would never etc be F2P. Ok thats fine. But would people actually pay monthly to play this game keeping the existing competition in mind?

[Rentahamster]

Well, for what it's worth, SE's plan from the beginning was for this game to have both monthly subscriptions and microtransactions.

(The microtransactions were extra retainers for a dollar)

[SuzakuCMX]

If they can't get people to subscribe for it, they'll probably shut it down.

[Alkoun]

Considering Yoshida said it himself the game won't go F2P: Never

To me, just cuz he says it, isn't enough. He's made a statement where they changed their minds about the main focus of the game (from guildleves to whatever it's evolving to now). Never say never.

That being said, however, it seems most people are of the opinion that it won't go F2P forever. Personally, I wouldn't want it to either. It just doesn't feel like a AAA MMO to me if I'm not paying a monthly sub. But times are changing. And I certainly wouldn't wanna pay a sub for a game that isn't competitive on a AAA level.

[Jennestia]

The FF14 staff honestly just isn't cut out for f2p. F2P is very competitive and need very experienced veterans to get profitable.

...Have you honestly played F2P MMOs? They're all exactly the same game with a different gimmick.

[Wynn]

If this were two years ago, I'd say that I don't think so. Now I'm not so sure. So many game companies that I never thought would entertain the f2p model, and have stated they would not consider it, have turned around and done so. It is especially common to see it happen when a game is no longer doing well or didn't do well right out of the gate like they had initially hoped. It is my opinion, and I hate to even say it, that it is a distinct possibility XIV could end up a f2p game in the future.

[Zanfire]

the second they decide this is a F2P game, they can kiss most of their current player (and potential players) goodbye. The PS3 version either puts out or im going with they shut it down and stick everyone on the new MMO they are working on (they did say 2-3 MMOs, not a definitive 3)

[Petori]

I doubt it never will be F2P and am happy about it.

[Mireille]

Considering the lost player base, and their commitment to keep what few players they have plus attract new people with the ps3 release, how likely do y'all think it is that they'll go free to play forever, with microtransactions?

In all of SE's discussions I've never seen permanent free to play even mentioned as a possibility. The game would need to be totally redesigned around the F2P business model. They might just as well just take their lumps and make a new game at that point. If this game ends up permanently F2P it will be because they've pulled the plug and development is no longer being done.