Download the update in advance previous to the Welcome Back weekend.

[Wilksha]

If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to log into your account from the client, just the play button will not pop up. So somewhere around the middle of the update maintenance you should be able to get the update. If this doesn't work. sadly you'll have to wait. I say this cause in FFXI you can log into you game account and update the game without an active account. The play button is just grayed out saying no active account characters available or some such. I could be wrong cause it's been like forever since I played XI, but it's worth a check since the worst tht can happen is it just will not update right?

[Mogi]

If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to log into your account from the client, just the play button will not pop up. So somewhere around the middle of the update maintenance you should be able to get the update. If this doesn't work. sadly you'll have to wait. I say this cause in FFXI you can log into you game account and update the game without an active account. The play button is just grayed out saying no active account characters available or some such. I could be wrong cause it's been like forever since I played XI, but it's worth a check since the worst tht can happen is it just will not update right?

Yea i think it lets you hit play but just tells you your account does not exist or that it's not active :P

[Tatsuo]

If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to log into your account from the client, just the play button will not pop up. So somewhere around the middle of the update maintenance you should be able to get the update. If this doesn't work. sadly you'll have to wait. I say this cause in FFXI you can log into you game account and update the game without an active account. The play button is just grayed out saying no active account characters available or some such. I could be wrong cause it's been like forever since I played XI, but it's worth a check since the worst tht can happen is it just will not update right?

If you did not have a valid / paid CONTENT ID, FFXI wouldn't let you update the game either, just PlayOnline. Exactly the same with FFXIV, where only the Launcher updates if you have no valid subscription.

... why provide bandwidth for someone who isn't paying?

[Andrewzz]

... why provide bandwidth for someone who isn't paying?

And that's perfect for me, I have your same opinion in that matter. I'm not asking to change the way the updater works forever, I'm just asking to change it for the Free Weekend.