Steam Changes August 29th 2019

[Relynia]

So I saw that steam players are no longer able to launch through non-steam clients, does this also work in reverse? Suddenly when I launch through my steam version of the game it tells me "you don't have an active account to play XIV please go to our website and register"

[Keebz]

Ugh same here. I actually also made a post on it then saw yours. I'm really saddened that this harmless feature was removed tonight. I liked logging into the Steam version of the game with my regular Windows account, and I bought the game twice (once regular Windows, once on Steam) so that I could have it in my Steam library even though I'm not using the Steam account. I wish they'd give us an explanation, or best of all, revert this change. I paid money for the Steam version and now they've made it useless for me.

[Vijo]

Same... I do love the Steam version for having my screenshots in a tidy place AND for having a launcher (plus counting the number of hours wasted clicking on trees as well).

I'd just like to know why they did it, because I don't see anybody benefiting from that change.

[worldofneil]

Same problem. I have a non-Steam account as well as a Steam account which SE allows me to put on the same master account (as two difference service accounts). For the last 5+ years I've been switching between them via the "Data Center" menu option as they intended...

Except I no longer can. Now I have to exit the game completely, launch a different shortcut (i.e. via Steam or via the ffxivboot.exe directly) and then select Data Center/account. There's no longer and fast account switching, have to close the game completely/log back in each time.

I'm sure they said it was only one way/wouldn't affect non-Steam people, but I'm struggling to find that

[Izekyu]

This is pretty stupid. Sure I can log in the the game by clicking on ffxivboot in the game files. But clicking on 'Play' in steam doesn't work.
Is there a fix to this?

[Rhomagus]

This is pretty stupid. Sure I can log in the the game by clicking on ffxivboot in the game files. But clicking on 'Play' in steam doesn't work.
Is there a fix to this?

Unfortunately we're in the same boat, and we're the only ones actually effected by this change, not Steam account users as was the original intention for the change as outlined below:

[Important]Regarding FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam Version (Mar. 8) (Updated: Mar. 13 11:05 p.m. PDT)

As part of our fraud prevention measures, we plan to implement a restricted login check process for Steam service account users.

[Affected]
FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam Version

[Changes]
Current:
FINAL FANTASY XIV Steam version clients can currently be opened directly without going through the Steam application and is possible to use the regular Windows version client application for Steam version service accounts.

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.

[Time and Date of Implementation]
Late March 2019 (tentative)

*Update Mar. 13, 2019 11:05 p.m. (PDT):
Due to a confirmed bug, implementation that was tentatively scheduled for late March will now be delayed until April or after. We will let you know as soon as a date is confirmed.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Steam users can already add "-issteam" to the launcher options and still launch the game outside of Steam, while folks in our predicament are the only ones actually blocked.

[SenorPatty]

I guess this also means should Steam go offline at any given moment, there goes your play time too until it gets back up.

[Nora_of_Mira]

I guess this also means should Steam go offline at any given moment, there goes your play time too until it gets back up.

people already confirmed you can play in offline mode.

[SenorPatty]

people already confirmed you can play in offline mode.

Is that before or after the authenticating the login?

Asking because I'm remembering the ESO incident.

[Astrus]

Is that before or after the authenticating the login?

Asking because I'm remembering the ESO incident.

You can, at least currently, bypass running Steam entirely by adding a prompt to your FFXIV shortcut.
For reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...without_steam/

The only thing they accomplished so far is locking out non-Steam accounts from using the Steam-provided client. Those affected would have to add the Steam installation as a non-Steam game which breaks a couple of the features they'd want to use the Steam version of the game for in the first place.