Please allow Steam License holders to buy a standalone PC License.

[AziraSyuren]

lmao, fuck.
I'm so glad I've kept a tight grip on my Steam account after all these years.

[CadetteMevois]

I have had my account since 2015, so at this point I'm in too deep to want to lose anything.

That said, between the requirement being imposed to launch the game through Steam, and now to link my Steam account and Square Enix account together, it feels like getting penalized for buying the game on Steam when other platforms aren't subjected to many, if any restrictions close to the same vein.

If it was something they could do, I would absolutely pay for a standard PC license in order to keep my progress while they stop sell the Steam version, because if it's Valve's doing, this is a bad look for them, but if not, it's a bad look for Square Enix.

[clearlybeloved]

Every time I see "steam" pop up on lodestone announcements with more restrictions I die a little more inside.

I think that both SE and steam players should be able to access the other PC version of the game if they purchase both versions.

It's not an issue of wanting to carry over expansions without paying for them, it's more about wanting to use existing accounts/characters on the alternate PC version of the game. As many others have already said most people, including myself, would be fine with re-purchasing the game and expansions if SE would allow us to do so.

[Navastro]

What's the big deal? I don't understand why is everyone crying. I though that you already have to be logged in to your Steam account to play it. The new system makes it just so if someone else would like to play FFXIV on your PC then they have to login to their Steam account (if they own Steam FFXIV license). This new security system basically doesn't change anything for the most of us. I also don't see what's wrong with having FFXIV Steam license instead of standalone besides inability to buy expansions through SE's store. Can someone explain why Steam license is so bad for you? Maybe you only own FFXIV on Steam, then I understand why you would want standalone license.

[Arkfrost]

This topic cannot get enough attention. PLEASE let us buy the Windows version on top of the steam version already, so people can get away from this cursed platform!
I would gladly spend 40 bucks for a new complete edition so I can get away from Steam. Hell, I would even pay 200 bucks to do that (40 bucks for base game & every xpac individually).

What's the big deal? I don't understand why is everyone crying.

For various reasons. A LOT of people simply cannot play anymore when this happens, because the new launcher is not compatible with Linux or Steamdeck, because they activated their game on another steam account they lost access to years ago, and many more reasons.
Also, a lot of people simply dislike Steam at all, but got the game gifted years ago through steam and are imprisoned in a steam account since then.

I though that you already have to be logged in to your Steam account to play it.

No you don't. All you need to do to login is to launch the regular ffxiv launcher with the launch argument -issteam. No need for Steam to be open and running in the background, which is what they're changing.
That's why people didn't complain that much when they made this change in Shadowbringers (but they already did complain a lot). Because there was a solution to still ditch steam. But now even that won't work anymore.

I also don't see what's wrong with having FFXIV Steam license instead of standalone besides inability to buy expansions through SE's store.

Not only the Square Enix store. Literally ANY store that sells FFXIV expansions (like Amazon, local shops, etc.) cannot activate the license if you have a steam license.

[Youkulm]

snip

If you read through the thread, there are a few examples of people that may be locked out of their accounts that they've had since ARR because of the region differences ( steam is going to require the regions be the same on both your steam account and FFXIV account to be able to login ). I don't think losing a 10 year old account is crying over nothing.

[Catwho]

I fully understand Steam not wanting people to be able to "transfer" to a regular Windows account, but there is absolutely no reason to have those two in the same license key space, especially if Steam players are saying they are willing to buy the whole game a second time.

It's SE's game, and SE's account system. Why should they be forced to accept the game being a "steam exclusive but only to steam account holders" release? Steam did nothing to contribute to the development of the game.

[Lieri]

Steam is such a hassle when it comes into big games that dont require Steam to advertise their games. Also Steam startup is very slow. Im glad I decided to just buy the game from SE store because Steam app performance has always been crap.

[Johners]

I really hate how few integrations with Steam functions FFXIV actually has. I purchased on Steam for a reason, actually make use of the features. I don't want it to just download the launcher, I want it to use Steam as the launcher. Steam should be used to authenticate me into FFXIV directly, download/update the entire game, see news posts (there's a news feed in the client) and pressing play should take me straight into the game itself. I hope we get there eventually as it would be great for the Steam Deck user experience and I really look forward to getting mine later this year.

[Belisaire]

What I don't understand is why Square-Enix can't just make a Steam and a Windows platform, which is what they do for Playstation and Mac. It is clearly not the case that Steam prevents the game from being sold on other platforms. Other games that are on Steam also have standalone versions sold through different channels (like Final Fantasy XV). I really don't get why they are forcing these keys to occupy the same slot.