Even if I have to re-purchase Everything...

[LadyBaelcrest]

I'm not sure if this is still the case, but as somebody who migrated from ESO, I can confirm that I used to bypass the Steam related issues by simple making a shortcut to the launcher exe directly. It would ask me for password instead of automatically signing in, just like the standalone accounts, and I could log in even when Steam was down or experiencing issues.

Maybe this game will offer something similar? It's been speculated that they're doing this to appease Valve because Valve hates hosting games without DRM. However, many games with encrypted/protected executables do not actually need a constant internet connection to be played. For example, you can play Skyrim when Steam is in offline mode. If the updated client for Steam does only the bare minimum stuff to appease Valve, then who knows? Offline mode might be an option.

Quote from the announcement:

After the change:
For Steam version service accounts, the FINAL FANTASY XIV client application will need to be started up from the Steam application's Play button. Any other method of direct startup will no longer be available.

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...9d4dcbcf2c5f4d

[DumdogsWorld]

My point is, the Play button is still there when Steam is in offline mode. This boils down to whether or not they use an authentication server. If all it's checking for is whether or not you launched it through Steam, you can do that just fine.

[LadyBaelcrest]

My point is, the Play button is still there when Steam is in offline mode. This boils down to whether or not they use an authentication server. If all it's checking for is whether or not you launched it through Steam, you can do that just fine.

I cannot give you a 100% definite answer. You are technically right, but considering it is an online game that's now being forced to go through the Steam play button the insinuation is there that they're going to use their authentication servers, but until the thing is actually implemented we can only speculate without hard evidence coming from up above.

[MrThinker]

They have also indefinitely delayed making this change for the time being due to a 'glitch' in this authentication system.