FFXIV On Xbox1

[jameseoakes]

However, if I may play devil's advocate for a sec, I think Microsoft refuses to budge because they don't want to show any favoritism - something Sony is very clearly doing. Overwatch, Elder Scrolls Online, and every other online-only retail game requires Playstation Plus. Not FFXIV though. Functionally, it's no different than those other games, but it's getting a free pass for some reason. To be fair, Sony and Square Enix have a long and storied relationship, but let's be honest - SE is getting special treatment other developers would kill for.

I'm not saying Microsoft isn't still stubborn in some ways, because clearly they are, but like many things in life, it's not as simple as it seems upon first glance.

I think the one big difference between those games and 14 is that it was on the PS3 which didn't need playstation plus for online play and it was probably easier to keep the same arrangement in place.

That said I do broadly agree with you.

[Cylestea]

the main reason is the paywall with Xboxlive and microsoft wanting their own servers. this is why ff11 closed down the Xbox 360 services years ago way before the playstation 2. unless Microsoft budges. FFXIv will never go to xbox

also Galaktica those are all games that do NOT have a sub wall. Overwatch is pay to own and play. ESO has an option to sub its not mandatory. FFXIV has a mandatory sub.

[Galaktica]

I think the one big difference between those games and 14 is that it was on the PS3 which didn't need playstation plus for online play and it was probably easier to keep the same arrangement in place.

That said I do broadly agree with you.

Oh, very good point, I actually forgot that was a thing.

also Galaktica those are all games that do NOT have a sub wall. Overwatch is pay to own and play. ESO has an option to sub its not mandatory. FFXIV has a mandatory sub.

Another very good point. That said, Sony doesn't get a cut of that sub so there's no reason why they have to waive the PS Plus requirements. Still, again, good point as that's something I hadn't considered.

[Lufir]

However, if I may play devil's advocate for a sec, I think Microsoft refuses to budge because they don't want to show any favoritism - something Sony is very clearly doing. Overwatch, Elder Scrolls Online, and every other online-only retail game requires Playstation Plus. Not FFXIV though. Functionally, it's no different than those other games, but it's getting a free pass for some reason. To be fair, Sony and Square Enix have a long and storied relationship, but let's be honest - SE is getting special treatment other developers would kill for.

I don't see that as favoritism. I think Sony is being more fair if anything. The only reason games like Overwatch and ESO require PS+ is because they are free to play. FFXIV is not. Microsoft just has really odd business practices and I think it shows since XB1 sales don't quite match up to the success of PS4.

[Kosmos992k]

While you're not wrong with how they handle DLC or optional services, do recall Warframe, MGS 5, and Neverwinter are both on Xbox and the microtransactions work the same. Patches aren't DLC either, I don't see a reason Xbox would charge for a game patch. I think it's more the whole separate issues, and needing xbl that hindered the games development on Xbox.

Not patches, no. But optional services like retainers and all the mob station stuff could be.

[Kosmos992k]

For example, there's this little game called Rocket League you may have heard of. Microsoft gave them the greenlight for cross-platform play between XB1, PS4, and PC, but Psyonix (the developers) couldn't make it a reality without permission from Sony.

Not really very true since PC and PS4 were already playing together before the 'openess' from Microsoft.

Guess what? Sony still refuses to budge. Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division, has been out there saying he welcomes cross-platform games, but it's not all up to him. If the developer can't or won't do it or Sony won't allow it, there's literally nothing Microsoft can do. Point is, they are much more flexible than they were even just a few years ago.

Sony already allows cross platform play, what they do not do is allow 3rd party game networks to interface directly with PSN, and from a security perspective, who can blame them.

The whole Microsoft play on cross platform is the usual dishonest smoke and mirrors from MS.

[Seig345]

As far as OverWatch and TESO requiring PS+ while FFXIV does not; TESO originally did not require it either when the game was Pay 2 Play (however XBL Gold was required from the beginning for the XB1 edition). I've also heard that it supposedly can have something to do with whether the servers are more heavily tied into the PSN infrastructure or not, but I'm not sure how OverWatch's infrastructure works (whether it's 100% Blizzard for the PS4 version or if it ties into PSN at all beyond connecting to the net).

Primarily I think it has to do with customer relations. Obviously Sony only sees a portion of game sales, but probably nothing in terms of subs or cash shop purchases from FFXIV, but to a customer it would appear like double dipping even though it would technically be from two unrelated companies. I guess Microsoft just doesn't care though. X)

[Galaktica]

Not really very true since PC and PS4 were already playing together before the 'openess' from Microsoft.



Sony already allows cross platform play, what they do not do is allow 3rd party game networks to interface directly with PSN, and from a security perspective, who can blame them.

The whole Microsoft play on cross platform is the usual dishonest some and mirrors from MS.

My point is Sony allows crossplay between PC and PS4 only while Microsoft allows crossplay between PC, XB1, and PS4. And who can blame them about being worried about security? We all should and can. FFXIV is literally a 3rd party network that hooks directly into PSN. Epic's Paragon uses it's own network as well. The only thing PSN does, and I may be using the wrong terminology here, is make the initial handshake that allows PS4s to connect to said networks.

How is smoke and mirrors? Psyonix literally said they were ready to roll out cross-platform play between every platform as soon as Sony gave them the greenlight. They weren't waiting on big, bad Microsoft. It was Sony who couldn't get their act together. Other developers feel the same way too.

I'm not trying to defend Microsoft or hate on Sony. I'm just saying, if you're going to praise one and dismiss the other, at least do it for the right reasons. Because they're both great and dumb in their own, unique ways.

[Jetstream_Fox]

Not patches, no. But optional services like retainers and all the mob station stuff could be.

Given Mog Station based services aren't offered through any other outlet such as PS Store or Steam, the only way I can see Microsoft attempting to monetize optional items is IF they required them to be purchased off the Xbox Marketplace. But XBL doesn't have it's own currency anymore, yet it uses real money amounts, so in this situation it's hard to determine how'd they attempt this. Also, given how certain items are set up to be either account wide or character based, setting up optional items via 3rd party outlets would likely not work. Honestly had SE not went the route of cash shop this would be one less hurdle for them to bring the game over. But that is a different discussion that has been done over and over again.

[Chevronone]

I would have bought an xbox if ffxiv was available for it. Now my household has two PS4s. Win for Sony.