Steam payment HUGE price increase!

[Niwashi]

However, "Recurring Fees" would refer to things like Auto Renew NOT one time subscription purchases. You are buying 30 days of game time (essentially a product with a defined length and expiration)but you are not signing up for a recurring fee, technically, unless you choose auto renew.

The NA version of the user agreement, it promises 30 days advance notice for changes to recurring fees, and it also defines it:
"A 'Recurring Fee' is a fee that will be charged on a recurring basis until you terminate your subscription."
The subscription fee itself is a recurring fee because it's charged repeatedly. Whether you pay it automatically or manually doesn't change the fact that you have to pay it repeatedly in order to maintain your sub. It's even pointed out in the opening of that paragraph:
"In order to access SQUARE ENIX's servers to play the Game, you must agree to a recurring subscription ("Subscription") with a minimum subscription term of 30 days, and pay a recurring subscription fee ("FFXIV Subscription Fee")."

In the EU version of the user agreement, the part about the 30 day notice doesn't even mention the fact that it's recurring, just mentioning subscription fees:
"FINAL FANTASY XIV Subscription Fee rates will be posted at http://sqex.to/ffxivfees_eu, and any changes to those rates will be posted with 30 days’ advance notice and notice will be provided to the Game community and by email to User’s registered email addresses."

By neither version would automatic versus manual payments of that recurring subscription fee make any difference to SE's promise that it won't change without 30 days advance notice.


EDIT:
It seems they may be getting around the rule by only listing prices in euros and pounds on the EU site, only in US dollars on the NA site, and only in yen on the JP site. Maybe they're treating it as though it's only those currencies that are (temporarily) guaranteed, and screw anyone else.

[Ayerinn]

The NA version of the user agreement, it promises 30 days advance notice for changes to recurring fees, and it also defines it:
"A 'Recurring Fee' is a fee that will be charged on a recurring basis until you terminate your subscription."
The subscription fee itself is a recurring fee because it's charged repeatedly. Whether you pay it automatically or manually doesn't change the fact that you have to pay it repeatedly in order to maintain your sub. It's even pointed out in the opening of that paragraph:"In order to access SQUARE ENIX's servers to play the Game, you must agree to a recurring subscription ("Subscription") with a minimum subscription term of 30 days, and pay a recurring subscription fee ("FFXIV Subscription Fee")."

In the EU version of the user agreement, the part about the 30 day notice doesn't even mention the fact that it's recurring, just mentioning subscription fees:
"FINAL FANTASY XIV Subscription Fee rates will be posted at http://sqex.to/ffxivfees_eu, and any changes to those rates will be posted with 30 days’ advance notice and notice will be provided to the Game community and by email to User’s registered email addresses."

By neither version would automatic versus manual payments of that recurring subscription fee make any difference to SE's promise that it won't change without 30 days advance notice.


EDIT:
It seems they may be getting around the rule by only listing prices in euros and pounds on the EU site, and only in US dollars on the NA site. Maybe they're treating it as though only those currencies are (temporarily) guaranteed, and screw anyone else.

I disagree with your interpretation (for NA ONLY...so the BRL change)- if you are not agreeing to auto renewal you are NOT incurring recurring fees...you have the choice every 30 days to purchase another product aka 30 day subscription. you literally purchased 30 days of subscription time with no recurring fees attached - if you do nothing, it ends, you are not charged anything other than what you paid upfront for those 30 days. UNLESS you agree to auto renewal - in which case you ARE incurring a recurring fee because you agreed to it. I agree that the next line of text makes it a little murky but I would be willing to bet the lawyers could successfully argue the interpretation.

The EU version is not as clean and they screwed themselves on that one - it can not be interpreted the same and they INDEED did not follow their own ToS/U. EU has a case...NA I do not believe does - at least imo.

I also think, after saying all that above, that they could argue that they didn't actually change prices on anything...technically, like you were sort of pointing out, the official pricing is in $/Euro/Pounds - they could easily argue it was an update to currency exchange rates and leave it at that.

[EkaterinaMikota]

Your correction increased my subscription threefold, My official answer - the game is not worth the money, otherwise I'm going to other projects, it was nice to play with you
Delete game


PS.Forgive me, I forgot to say that if there is this company or cooperation with her, then I will not cooperate with them and enter these projects, because increasing the prices while making options for the country where I live is not available. So I will not be interested, for example, if there is no Russian ... just bring to your attention!

[Argantaelle]

What amuses me greatly is Square Enix attitude towards FFXIV players. Did you guys really consider that we wouldn't notice this stealth price increase? Did you think that we'd just continue playing without asking questions? Why didn't we receive any warning at least the week before the price change? Why we got an answer only two days after the price change?

That's great. I don't even know what to say. I've already noticed that Square Enix customer service leaves much to be desired, but this goes beyond endurance. I'm quite furious atm. If I knew this beforehand I'd do some serious thinking before buying Stormblood (and being your faithful subscriber since 2013 and paying for all 6 additional retainers).

This attitude is driving me nuts. This is an astonishing example of extremely bad communication.

[Heroboy]

I think some people can't pay 3x price... especially russians... and especially me

[Holystrike]

Be at least you advised US Brazilians, Russians and other countries that were affected with the increase in tuition, before purchasing the expansion (example > 1 months before the release), we did not'd spend our money to buy the Stormblood.

Very slutty by Square Enix and steam.
Even blizzard itself does sort of thing to players, they at least warn a lot before making any changes.

[Catalis]

Rly ? 890 RUB , 2 months subscription 1780 RUB its price for A class steam game on RU region . World of Warcraft RU - 500 RUB 1 months subscription .Lots of my friends changed legacy accounts to Steam accounts after realese FF14 on steam , for save money , old price for mog up for 1000 RUB . So it sad , but FF14 expensive for me EU ppl sorry for my English !!!

[Yavis]

I feel betrayed. I predicted Stormblood - after the release it became cheaper. The subscription ends and you get a new price. Could warn about the increase in prices and immediately oust the insolvent players. Having saved them money, but no. We call this "Naebalovo"

[Tenarii]

SE waited one month to lock the refund option and changed prices without any kind of notification. This disrespect for player base is unbearable. I don't see any reason to play this game anymore.

[Krustnik02]

Good work SE. Why was releasing game in steam with regional prices from start? I have ARR and HW collector's edition. to play with regional prices I buy once more full game for steam. buy SB and now you say - " here your price". Don't you think this is a deceit? If I don't need buy game 2 time for steam- this was normal, but you deceived the players.
Aegrus, Bixillarla price changes is normal, but SE sold game 2 times- it's deceit.