Thread: 2.2 Retainers via Microtransactions

Originally Posted by Zumi

Selling retainers was a relic from 1.0 at launch. It was SEs plan to sell them at the start of the game and I didn't see anyone complaing about it back then. But when the game didn't do so well they took out the idea and just gave everyone 2 because very few people would buy them.

But they never given up the plan to sell extra retainers.
Or they wouldn't have written this as they announced the coming fee in december 2011 before they activated p2p service:

Retainers
As before, and until the release of Version 2.0, players will be entitled to employ two Retainers at no charge.

Read up on the details of FINAL FANTASY XIV Version 2.0.
* The fee structure for after the release of FINAL FANTASY XIV Version 2.0 (including those of retainers) is unconfirmed at the time of writing.

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...yopemeopw.html

It was only not buyable during 1.0 because the payment service was deactivated until january 2012 (couldn't buy anything except crystas) and after the payment service was activated they delayed it until 2.0 because 1.0 ended soon anyway.