Felt scammed by SE

[Dragonblanco]

Yes, but that’s not my point, my point is: why not give access right now to previously content?

I mean I’m buying the latest expansion, cmon, should I buy shb and in November had to buy endwalker at full price again? Let’s be fair, this political of business makes me sad…

Yeah, business politics does get sad. Like how come you can be a customer of an internet provider but have to pay full price, meanwhile they allow new customers to only pay 25-50% of the monthly premium? How come new customers to wireless providers get free phones but existing customers don't get access to any perks like that?

It's all about bringing new business. Their assumption is anyone preordering Endwalker already likely has the other expansions. But just like the things I mentioned about cable or phone providers, they decided to add a perk to all new players. That perk is if they wait until November, they'll get the other expansions added at no cost. Otherwise, if you want access sooner, you pay for it. Long story: it's a promotional offer with strings attached.

[dougff9]

Oh, I should have specified better. The last quote was basic which could be misleading. But like when you click on Pre-Order, it then takes to https://ffxivstorehub.square-enix-games.com/en_US

On that one, it then says


IMPORTANT:

• This product is a FINAL FANTASY® XIV expansion pack that requires FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online Starter Edition (A Realm Reborn) and an active subscription to play.
• This product also includes Stormblood and Shadowbringers expansion packs, which will only be provided at the release of Endwalker.

Adding that as you wouldn't know the part about "will only be provided at the release of Endwalker" from their little footnote/fine print that had said:

* This is the latest FINAL FANTASY XIV expansion pack and is intended for existing users who own the full version of FINAL FANTASY XIV, as this product cannot be played on its own. In order to register this product, you will need a method to play FINAL FANTASY XIV that does not include the free trial.
* Registration of this product grants users access to Endwalker, as well as previous expansion packs, Stormblood and Shadowbringers.
* A subscription fee is required to play.

_______

I could have edited it out, but figured I would leave it there as might kind of help serve the point of what you were saying, on how you didn't see it there and then rushed forward with buying, missing the fine print on the next screen. Also kind of highlights where in my haste to make a point, I didn't actually read every word, otherwise I would have left out that excerpt from the original comment.

Again, yes, I’m aware now, but that’s not my point, read my last reply to you…

[dougff9]

Because the current price point doesn't allow for that. If by pre-ordering EW you were to gain immediate access to Stb+Shb, then the standard pre-order price would have been $80.

Since they didn't want to price the preorder at $80, they priced it at $40 and said, "Check out this great price! Only thing is you gotta wait for the old xpacs if you don't already have them."

Now I got it,

isn’t full price? I paid in BRLS and I assumed was 60$ range…

My fault then…

[Dragonblanco]

Again, yes, I’m aware now, but that’s not my point, read my last reply to you…

Haha, yeah. We're like one post behind each other. My addendum you quoted and then said "I'm aware now" I had posted quickly after my first. You had responded to me in that time. I'm assuming that perhaps when I'm done commenting on this, you'll have responded to my post about new customer discounts and stuff on internet and all. Guess key thing is, ignore this comment and we should be caught up with each other on comments. But if you respond to this one, we'll be off pace again.

[Evergrey]

Yes, but that’s not my point, my point is: why not give access right now to previously content?

I mean I’m buying the latest expansion, cmon, should I buy shb and in November had to buy endwalker at full price again? Let’s be fair, this political of business makes me sad…

That's because they can't just let people play the current latest content for "free" simply because they bought an upcoming expansion where the previous content is included.

[LittleImp]

Don't worry, the same issue comes up every expansion, and the same people turn out to white-knight a corporation like clockwork. I'm surprised we don't have people arguing in favor of needing to buy every expansion always at this rate.

I've had multiple friends who had interest in returning to the game for an expansion decide not to, after seeing they would have to shell out for both expansions ultimately if they wanted to play in the interim.

I strongly believe that once an expansion is "dead" at the final major patch (echo in savage tier, no new major content updates coming) that it should become playable to anyone who has pre-ordered the next expansion.

[Evergrey]

Don't worry, the same issue comes up every expansion, and the same people turn out to white-knight a corporation like clockwork. I'm surprised we don't have people arguing in favor of needing to buy every expansion always at this rate.

I've had multiple friends who had interest in returning to the game for an expansion decide not to, after seeing they would have to shell out for both expansions ultimately if they wanted to play in the interim.

I strongly believe that once an expansion is "dead" at the final major patch (echo in savage tier, no new major content updates coming) that it should become playable to anyone who has pre-ordered the next expansion.

It's not white knighting though.
This isn't something only FFXIV does, all MMOs does this.
If people wanna play right now they gotta pay for what's on right now.

And once the next expansion is out one won't have to pay for the previous expansions as they are included.
But that's only after the release of the next expansion as up until then current content still has its own price tag.

[Varilyon]

Don't worry, the same issue comes up every expansion, and the same people turn out to white-knight a corporation like clockwork. I'm surprised we don't have people arguing in favor of needing to buy every expansion always at this rate.

SE should treat everyone equal and fair. That is a great idea!

If you want to play Endwalker, you will need every expansion. To make it fair for everyone, the price should be the same. New Players need to pay...

60€ for Final Fantasy Online (1.0)
60€ for A Realm Reborn (2.0)
60€ for Heavensward (3.0)
60€ for Stormblood (4.0)
60€ for Shadowbringers (5.0)
60€ for Endwalker (6.0)

Starting the game with the cost of only 360€ and one month playtime for free! Exciting offer!


Tbh I am kind of happy about this System right now. If you want to play with everyone, 25-40€ for everything until now + 40€ for preorder is fair. People will pay way more for other games and services.

Every addon has much to offer and all shb-endgame content will be played this year.


OP, I am sorry for you, that you missread it. But there are chances to get Shadowbringers really cheap with special offers (f.e. there was a Gamescom- and other gaming-event-offers)

[Vahlnir]

Always read the fine print. Always. You, me and everyone else doesn't have to like it, but the details were there for all to see.

[Lanadra]

Yes, but that’s not my point, my point is: why not give access right now to previously content?

I mean I’m buying the latest expansion, cmon, should I buy shb and in November had to buy endwalker at full price again? Let’s be fair, this political of business makes me sad…

I see your reading problems extend further than just store descriptions. I'll put Breakbeat's rather informative post below for your convenience, read it.

SE is in business to make money. As cool as it would be to give out free expansion packs, playable today, with the preorder ... they'd be losing a ton of money. They would have had to raise the price of the Endwalker preorder considerably.

Take me as an example. I started a few weeks ago (WoW expat), was getting close to level 60, and started seeing a ton of red quest markers telling me I needed Stormblood or Shadowbringers installed. Cool, no problem. Loving this game so off to purchase an xpac I went. StB+ShB are $40. Pre-order Endwalker is also $40.

I would not expect to get StB, ShB and EW (playable now for the former two, playable on release for the latter) for $40, when the current value of those products is $80. If you could get all three for $40, and play all of them right now, it would make no sense to leave the StB+ShB expansion up for sale. They'd have to do price re-structuring right now, which (I am assuming, similar to WoW) they only do after a new expansion drops.

So, that's why you can't play StB or ShB when you pre-order EW right now, because: