Looking Forward: How Is Heavensward Launch going to handle Physical CE purchasers?

[niwaar]

Ok, I know we are months out from Heavensward, and we do not even have a solid (or otherwise) release date on the expansion. That being said, I would like to ask this question soon enough that SE can really think of a proper way to handle this.

Q: How will the launch of Heavensward be handled for those players choosing to purchase the Physical Collector's Edition?

The CE has obviously been put together with a lot of care to entice those of us who routinely purchase Collector's Editions to pick it up. However, in the past with other games and their expansions, those of us who choose to purchase the physical CE have been forced to either 1) Wait for it to come in the mail or 2) Go and pick it up at a store at midnight. Thus eliminating our ability to play with our friends who are raring to go at the launch window. (I have had to do this with everything from FFXI to WoW).

The only choice for those of us who want to play when the expansion goes live and want the Physical CE has been to purchase a digital copy so we can play AND the physical CE for whenever it comes in. (This is made worse if the only place to purchase the Physical CE is the SE store, which does not tend to have things arrive on launch days. Even worse for friends who do not live in the 48 states.)

So let me ask again... How will this be handled? If we purchase the PCE from the SE store will we get a code so we can experience the content as it goes out? Please tell me there is someone who sees this as a real problem.

Also... Will we need to purchase to expansion on multiple platforms? Or will I be able to play on ps4 and pc if I own the base game and one copy of the expac?

[Nghthawk]

I'll try to answer a few of your questions,

* You will need to purchase the game for each platform (PC & PS4) (PS4 is a Sony product and you better believe they want their share of sale commissions)
* Digital River is terrible, expect an email after purchase hours after being charged (Pray you have the code in the email)
* Was mentioned I think in a Live letter or perhaps fan fest (someone else can confirm where), you don't need the buy the expansion to have access to the new area. You will however need it to do some of the content (what they details no one knows yet).

As far as the physical copy I don't think anyone knows and don't expect a vague answer until I want to say end of March

[LineageRazor]

It is my guess that hard copies of the game (including CE) will be available for purchase well before the content actually becomes active. You'll buy the game (physical or download, CE or not), install it, and then simply be unable to access any of the new content until the content becomes active for everybody, all at once.

* Was mentioned I think in a Live letter or perhaps fan fest (someone else can confirm where), you don't need the buy the expansion to have access to the new area. You will however need it to do some of the content (what they details no one knows yet).

I don't remember for certain what they said about what could or could not be accessed if you do not have the expansion, but if they follow the same pattern as in FFXI, you:

- will not be able to access the new areas.
- will not be able to participate in any quests or instances in the new areas (including those for unlocking new jobs)
- will be able to use equipment and items from the new areas, so long as those items are tradable/sellable.
- will be able to level your current jobs to the new level cap.
- will be able to see and interact with other players who have unlocked and are using the new jobs and equipment.

And, while there's no precedent in this case, I strongly suspect that you:

- will not be able to start a character as (or Fantasia to) the new Au Ra race.

[Ecks007]

* Was mentioned I think in a Live letter or perhaps fan fest (someone else can confirm where), you don't need the buy the expansion to have access to the new area. You will however need it to do some of the content (what they details no one knows yet).

No. That is not quite true. What was explained by the devs is that you will still be able to see players who are the jobs in the expansion and play with them, but you cannot explore any of that new content (duh). It's part of the expansion and you cannot reach it if you do not have the expansion. But all already available content is still accessable by any player who does not have the expansion.

Anything new introduced in 3.0 will not be accessable to anyone who does not have the expansion. This is common sense, and exactly what Yoshi said.

[Wobi]

If I order a physical copy of the CE I'm getting it from Amazon, they've gotten me all my other games on launch day. But as I don't particularly care about the physical items I'll likely stick to whatever Digital Deluxe version they offer.

[Nutz]

I would think that the best way to handle this would be to include the digital version as part of the physical version. That is, when purchasing the physical version of the game they should still handle the unlock portion of the transaction digitally. Ideally this would be through the mogstation and when you make the purchase it's just automatically activated on your account. That way you're really only waiting for your statue and what not through the mail (and install disc that you'll never use I suppose). The only exception that should exist is the option to declare the purchase a gift. Though ideally that too would allow for a digital unlock before the physical package arrives.

That said, I really doubt that they'll do anything of the sort and you should be wary of how you proceed.

[Shane_Leonhart]

They did an early access thing for A Realm Reborn, in that you were able to play during the weekend before the game official release date, and the early access continued on though that same week so that you could play the game while your physical copy arrived so you could enter the registration code.

If Heavensward does something similar there won't be anything to worry about.

[Reignald]

They did an early access thing for A Realm Reborn, in that you were able to play during the weekend before the game official release date, and the early access continued on though that same week so that you could play the game while your physical copy arrived so you could enter the registration code.

The thing is every game works the same prelaunch, you get your preorder code and you get to play during headstart and then you have so much time to enter your code once you receive your game in the mail etc. Problem is most games, namely WoW, don't follow the same format for their expansions for some reason. It just gets annoying that to some degree the you get the short end of the stick if you want to buy a physical copy, doubly so if you want the collector's edition, when they could just send out preorder codes again and give you so much time to enter your retail key to continue playing.

[Zumi]

We don't know if the CE will be SE store exclusive or not. Hoping can order it and pick it up at best buy or something. Best Buy is usually bad at getting the game to you on launch day though.

I don't think any stores will be doing midnight openings for FFXIV expansion. So if we are getting physical edition we still have to wait until morning to pick it up. At most people will have an 8-10 head start on you if they bought the digital edition. Otherwise if you ordered online be waiting for the mail / ups guy which could be any time during the day assuming you pay extra for the shipping for them to get it to you on launch day.

[KagatoAC]

If I can get the physical collectors edition I will deal with being a day behind the rest of my friends / FC. just because I will have that sexy Dragon statue to balance out my figure shelf next to the one from Skyrim

Ideally Gamestop will have a midnight release, if not, i'll go pick it up first thing in the morning, install and play then, I'm still a little amazed that we don't even have a date range yet other than "Spring" which knowing SE is likely to be like July