Should Ukrainians get a free/lowered Sub?

[Ignis_Fatuus]

I'm not into this kind of things, but is really all in Squarenix hands the pricing decided for monthly subscriptions? Correct me if I'm wrong (probably I am) but isn't related to some kind of "economic laws" from the countries too?

[Sotaris]

Maybe a controversial and unpopular opinion but I don't think we should give certain countries special treatment. Especially optional game subscriptions. On that token, should SE rise the sub fee for Russian/Donbass regional players?

Having demolition timers on pause is one thing but giving discounts for certain people, that'd just be virtue signaling.

Also, a lot of European countries struggle now (maybe NA too) with the economy, sky-high food prices, and electricity such high levels we have never seen before (mostly cause the EU has been naive and relying on Russian gas and terminated the nuclear power which is safe and reliable) and relying on Wind and solar power. Fossil fuel is outrageous high as well, at least by Swedish levels where we have to pay multiple taxes on gasoline and diesel. List goes on.

[Ranaku]

Ofc not and I wonder why you don't ask lowered subs for Syria, Irak, Pakistan, entire SA and so on.

Almost forgot Libya.

That is wonderful whataboutism, yes if they have actually players their sub fee should be accordingly to the strength of their currency maybe. It's not like that isn't a thing already, russian players for example pay already 3-4 times less than the western players. European players pay like 2-3 dollars less than NA players.

So where again is the problem with regional pricing, when it already exists? I mean for all it is worth i personally don't ask that SE just gives them completely free gametime, that was just an option and i wanted to hear what the people here think about it. I just simply think you shouldn't have to pay a week of full time work just for the sub fee and yes no matter where you live.

[Ranaku]

Maybe a controversial and unpopular opinion but I don't think we should give certain countries special treatment. Especially optional game subscriptions.
Having demolition timers on pause is one thing but giving discounts for certain people, that'd just be virtue signaling.

Fair opinion but on what do you base special treatment on? The dollar is/was less strong than the euro, so your sub costs more than a european one. I know people really don't understand economics but seriously it is not that hard to understand that different countries have different incomes.

And again, it already exists. It is already a thing. YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING 4 TIMES MORE THAN A RUSSIAN PLAYER DUH. And nobody cared for...well as long as the game existed so far. It's not that hard to understand that it isn't virtue signaling to take sub fees accordingly to the peoples income and the strength of their currency...LIKE IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

[Sotaris]

Fair opinion but on what do you base special treatment on? The dollar is/was less strong than the euro, so your sub costs more than a european one. I know people really don't understand economics but seriously it is not that hard to understand that different countries have different incomes.

And again, it already exists. It is already a thing. YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING 4 TIMES MORE THAN A RUSSIAN PLAYER DUH. And nobody cared for...well as long as the game existed so far. It's not that hard to understand that it isn't virtue signaling to take sub fees accordingly to the peoples income and the strength of their currency...LIKE IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

You made it sound in the OP that Ukraine should get a discounted sub. I'm living in Sweden, I have to pay SEK converted to EUR. It's the same for everyone in Europe.
If I misunderstood you, then disregard that part I guess.

I didn't know how much Russians paid cause I'm not Russian. My point was more that if you going to set a lower sub for one group, you could as well "punish" the aggressor.
Not sure why you getting so riled up.

[Ranaku]

You made it sound in the OP that Ukraine should get a discounted sub. I'm living in Sweden, I have to pay SEK converted to EUR. It's the same for everyone in Europe.
If I misunderstood you, then disregard that part I guess.

I didn't know how much Russians paid cause I'm not Russian. My point was more that if you going to set a lower sub for one group, you could as well "punish" the aggressor.

The thing is there wasn't from the start any sub fee equality anyways so people only cry about it now cause it is in line of sight but seriously who cried about NA players having to pay four times more money than a russian player? Or not being able to pay hourly sub fees like china does. There is anyways no equality and heck even blizzard out of all companies managed actually to add the ukrainian currency as a possible form of payment.

I suggested that the sub fee might be adjusted and based on their currency, like it should be with any country where SE has actually a good base of players. So i don't really get why people see that as virtue signaling since it is already a thing, like the currency of Russia is really weak compared to Euro/Dollar. So they pay less. Cause the min wage there is like 13k ruble a month and 13 Euro would be like 800 ruble. So they pay less cause...well...you can't demand 7% of a persons gross income for a sub fee cause nobody would play the game that way.

I mean what is the other option here? Make everything based on dollars and well let the rest of the world pay half their monthly income as a sub fee or well lock them out of the game just cause people on NA don't want others to get "special treatment".

[Casti_EL]

Although I sympathise with Ukraine over everything going on, I don't think reducing the subs for a game/giving them free time is the best way to show solidarity with them, at most it will be a good bit of PR for SE until people start complaining about other countries in similar situations not getting the same treatment, or other people start abusing it using VPN's to claim they play in the Ukraine, etc. Yes it may be a life-line/escape for some of the people living there but actually how many people would it actually benefit in the end? There's also the fact that SE is a global business, and like so many others - they wont do something like this without it reaping benefit to them with little risk (i.e. risk is Russia sees it as an act of support for Ukraine and basically stops all Russian players from accessing the servers - SE then loses majority of subs in Russia, if that's worth more money than what subs they'd lose from Ukraine by charging full amount, they won't do it).

If SE really wanted to help Ukraine they would put money towards relief funds for medical supplies, food, etc.

Personally if I was living in a war-torn country (and hope I never have to - most we have to deal with right now are greedy right-wing politicians dragging the country back into the dark ages), getting a reduction on a monthly gaming subscription would be the last thing I'd be wanting when people I know are being slaughtered or our cities/towns are being destroyed.

[Carin-Eri]

The thing is there wasn't from the start any sub fee equality anyways so people only cry about it now cause it is in line of sight but seriously who cried about NA players having to pay four times more money than a russian player? Or not being able to pay hourly sub fees like china does. There is anyways no equality and heck even blizzard out of all companies managed actually to add the ukrainian currency as a possible form of payment.

I suggested that the sub fee might be adjusted and based on their currency, like it should be with any country where SE has actually a good base of players. So i don't really get why people see that as virtue signaling since it is already a thing, like the currency of Russia is really weak compared to Euro/Dollar. So they pay less. Cause the min wage there is like 13k ruble a month and 13 Euro would be like 800 ruble. So they pay less cause...well...you can't demand 7% of a persons gross income for a sub fee cause nobody would play the game that way.

I mean what is the other option here? Make everything based on dollars and well let the rest of the world pay half their monthly income as a sub fee or well lock them out of the game just cause people on NA don't want others to get "special treatment".

It really is difficult to know what to say in this scenario. It isn't really fair and there is no easy solution beyond the, frankly unhelpful and somewhat callous, suggestion that those struggling to pay the Subscription might be better served finding a MMO that is committed to the Free to Play model.

Although, to be clear, it isn't something 'I' would suggest since firstly I understand the love many players have for this game (since I share it) and secondly I abhor Free to Play model MMOs due to negative experience of what it can do to a game over a long period of time.

[xenahawk]

Did we get free/reduced price membership during the WORLDWIDE covid pandemic? Well then there's your answer.

Im sorry but did i miss where our sub fees went up during covid? Keep in mind the sub fees practically doubled since the start of the war so when people ask if they should get their fees lowered its more or less to bring it back to the normal rate.

[IDontPetLalas]

That is wonderful whataboutism, yes if they have actually players their sub fee should be accordingly to the strength of their currency maybe. It's not like that isn't a thing already, russian players for example pay already 3-4 times less than the western players. European players pay like 2-3 dollars less than NA players.

So where again is the problem with regional pricing, when it already exists? I mean for all it is worth i personally don't ask that SE just gives them completely free gametime, that was just an option and i wanted to hear what the people here think about it. I just simply think you shouldn't have to pay a week of full time work just for the sub fee and yes no matter where you live.

There is no such thing as "NA" players when it comes to currency. There is no regional pricing for Canadian players who are charged in US pricing, and are penalized by exchange rates, so it isn't unusual for the sub to cost 20% more. (i won't even get into some of the crazy shipping costs I've seen applied for Canadians that don't apply to Americans).