What are the Chances FFXIV will go F2P?

[Zenaku]

It would never stay F2P listen all SE need to do is market the s*** out of FFXIV for PS3 everywhere in USA and other part that the game would be sold. Maybe display FFXIV on E3 2012 and show the new pack for the game and talk to sony about making a CE version of FFXIV with a PS3 with art work of FFXIV and PS3 CE version of FFXIV inside. Even have FFXIV ready to play on the PS3 from release and do other type of marketing for FFXIV and this wont be F2P.

But if SE only does marketing in Japan then i guess they be no hope for ffxiv.

[Rjain]

listen all SE need to do is market the s*** out of FFXIV for PS3...

You say that as if it's easy.

I agree with it but considering how much money this game has lost and is still continuing to lose, and given the fact Square-Enix said they plan on cancelling a crapload of projects because of their extreme losses in general, I don't think they're going to spend too much more on a project that has record low players.

[Mireille]

You say that as if it's easy.

I agree with it but considering how much money this game has lost and is still continuing to lose, and given the fact Square-Enix said they plan on cancelling a crapload of projects because of their extreme losses in general, I don't think they're going to spend too much more on a project that has record low players.

SE has said that having 2 - 3 concurrently operating MMO is central to their business strategy. Hence the decision to fix this game rather than scrap it. I'm betting they will spend a lot of money to make this work if only to establish/maintain their rep as a maker of MMO. SE wouldn't be the only major software vendor to take a lackluster product and turn it into something well respected by applying sufficient amounts of cash. In point of fact that's exactly how Microsoft turned its SQL server into something competitive with Oracle.

If SE has the cash they can make it work it will just take time. They may loose some players, but new gamers are being born every day. Honestly I was only ever really worried XIV might be eliminated right after the earthquake. A lot of Japanese businesses had to make major adjustments to their business strategies in the aftermath of that. SE turned off some of the lights, reduced their air conditioning, and XIV managed to keep off the non-essential list.

I've been to Japan in August, and the devs have my sympathy on the lack of AC. XD