Appeal to Square Enix regarding subscription prices for BR and RU

[Chekir]

To all my colleagues on this difficult road, I salute you. (ಠ_ಠ)/ (ಥ_ಥ)7 We did it.
I must say that I did not count on free time or something similar. Even though regional prices will be lost soon and many players can leave after this, this is a generous step towards the community, holding prices for 2 months will allow players to decide for themselves whether they want to play after that or not. I take off my hat in front of you SE. You were able to resolve such a difficult situation.

[Demafogotto]

Huh, i didn't even hope anymore for an official response anymore.

But they didn't only do that, they reverted the price for a bit AND give out freebies?

I'm pleasantly impressed. As i'm able to accept the new price anyway, now i have no grudges in doing so.

[DoppelShifter]

(Hello again, Eorzeans. I'm back from the Void)

...While I welcome (most of) what SE did with this announcement, I sadly think it's kind of "too little, too late".

Don't get me wrong, if they had done this from the beginning (save from the free 30 days part), this would've been a lot closer to industry-standard behavior (Blizzard did the same thing when they had to announce price increases for WoW last year, for example). But they waited almost a month to do what they should have done from the get go, and I'm afraid giving 30 days of play time as part of the "apology" just sounds... condescending.

...Actually, condescending is the whole tone of their announcement. They're repeating the argument of "equal prices", which is both an outdated procedure from a monolithic and slow-moving corporate mind (just look at how many online services and games are expanding their regional prices, instead of rolling back on them), and also... actually inaccurate. As some other Eorzeans pointed out, the UK, Australia and New Zealand (with possibly other places) still have their own regional prices due to devaluation of their currencies due to political and/or economical turmoil (in UK's case, their own political/economical drama and subsequent currency devaluation started after Russia's but before Brazil's), and Square Enix isn't including them in the "equalization".

And no, I'm not asking for SE to increase their prices too. I'm just pointing out that their argument that "we're just equalizing prices" does not hold water, and it just sounds like they're trying to sound like they're being nice and going an extra mile for us, when in fact... they were reluctant to walk a single step.

I understand if you folks think this is enough for you folks to feel vindicated or at least feel "it's enough for me to stay for a little longer".
...but I wouldn't paint SE as "being the generous nice guys" just because "they gave us free 30 days". They're gonna bathe in a peak in subscription purchases from BR and RU players for the "reduced prices period" and then will proceed to discard us like originally planned. That really doesn't sound like "generosity" to me.

I'm happy for all of you who will be able to stay in Eorzea a little longer. But I already had my share. It was a wonderful ride, one of the best games I've ever played in my whole life, but Square Enix just proved that they just want my money faster even if it costs my loyalty. And my loyalty it did cost.

Goodbye, Eorzeans. May you ever walk in the Light of the Crystal.

[Ronivan]

As of August 16th prices will be reverted back to the old prices for a period of 2 months. That is more than a fair warning and also very generous of SE.


http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...362.1498768220

It appears they are even going to give you 30 days free for those that had to pay the increased price. SE has shown they care about their customers.

Nope they don't, this was just some kind of way to try to make amends for fooling people buying the Stormblood. If they really care, they would have announced this before Stormblood, not after everyone brought it, and now are left with a game they can't afford anymore. SE can take back this useless 30 days, the end will be the same. I don't know why I give a %$# of coming back here to waste time.

[EkaterinaMikota]

I do not understand, what are you thinking? Why do not you see that nothing has changed, because they put the price at a general level, I do not need your 30 days, you can take your handouts back!
The people do not be dumb macaques, demand that everything be returned back as it was .... please open your eyes

[Artikof]

I am just shocked that so many people are okay with this turn of events. This is literally SE just covering their asses while still doing this horrible move, nothing has been actually done.

[Gumbercules]

What do people want, bar the sub remaining the same? SB refunds? Legitimately curious. I mean i agree this does seem intentionally timed to sell SB copies, but now i am curious about what the intention was. The price will change, so faced against that, is the goal refunds?

[Artikof]

What do people want, bar the sub remaining the same? SB refunds? Legitimately curious. I mean i agree this does seem intentionally timed to sell SB copies, but now i am curious about what the intention was. The price will change, so faced against that, is the goal refunds?

Refunds wouldn't be the worst option, in all honesty. The timing is just too slimy, really.

[Rita1989]

Refunds wouldn't be the worst option, in all honesty. The timing is just too slimy, really.

Sorry but you got enough value from Stormblood that you do not deserve a refund.

SE is a business an no business in their right mind is going to generate bad publicity before launching an expansion, you were on borrowed time with your cheap subs and it was going to come to an end eventually.

[Centershock]

Sorry but you got enough value from Stormblood that you do not deserve a refund.

SE is a business an no business in their right mind is going to generate bad publicity before launching an expansion, you were on borrowed time with your cheap subs and it was going to come to an end eventually.

In contrast to the condescending tone of the post I quoted...

To BR and RU players, how much (in your currency) is a monthly sub and how much did you have to pay for the Stormblood expansion? I'm curious to know. Because enticing customers to buying Stormblood then suddenly raising your prices without notice is what generates bad publicity.