Why are there both PC and Mac licenses?

[RitsukoSonoda]

You don't need to change the registry, all that you to do is download the client through crossOver, make a new Windows 10 x64 bottle, install DIRECTV X, DXVK, and then install the FF14 setup files inside of this bottle. No hacking needed at all.

Your second point kind of goes to my point.

Yes if it's a commercial release they need to ensure it works but the investment is minimal at this point. The phrase "not even test" wasn't fair but to make it a big undertaking is far from the truth. crossOver 21 hasn't been tested or even implemented by SE but shows significant gains in performance. And again, no testing done was done by SE in the process. Patches have been released and XIVLauncher has been updated to already support Endwalker on release all without testing from SE.

I am fine having some charge to support the Mac version but in no world is full retail pricing justified; especially if one already has the PC version.

Well it's still a separate software license and if I remember right software providers actually have to use the same price across all distribution platforms which the regulation stating so probably makes no differentiation between PC and Mac in that regard. At the same time they probably cannot offer a discounted price for a mac key for people that have the pc version because it would likely cause problems with the number of people that purchased keys for PC and Playstation.

[VisperCon]

Well it's still a separate software license and if I remember right software providers actually have to use the same price across all distribution platforms which the regulation stating so probably makes no differentiation between PC and Mac in that regard. At the same time they probably cannot offer a discounted price for a mac key for people that have the pc version because it would likely cause problems with the number of people that purchased keys for PC and Playstation.

Apologies, but this is 100% incorrect (in the States). This would be almost the opposite of regulation and could be considered price fixing which is extremely illegal.

The simple truth is they're not the same product. I understand that it's frustrating that the Mac version isn't well optimised but it doesn't change the fact that it's not the same product as the PC or console versions.

When you pay for FFXIV the game you're not paying for the game as a whole, you're paying for a specific version of a client that runs that game.

Your account however is a single product that can access all versions of the game client which is why you do not need to pay separate sub fees to play on multiple platforms.

I understand that different platforms have different requirements and meeting those requirements costs time and money to develop for each platform, but it does suck that you have to pay full price if you want to have multiple clients of the game. It would be nice if you at least got a discount if you already own one version of the game client. And to prevent people from repeatedly reselling cheaper versions of the client SE could only allow the discount if it's bought through your Mog Station account so that each account could access the discount only once per version of the client.

I guess I just have a sour taste with this because the game is not designed for MacOS much less M1 Macs; conversely if someone looks at WoW not only is the game now native for M1 processors but you only need one copy of the game and no multiple copies of multiple expansions. They both have monthly fees and in-store cosmetics but for WoW the players only need one copy, one sub, one account, and can play on multiple platforms. I probably wouldn't be so vexed if it was a better company that did this but to see ActivisionBlizzard of all companies offer this while a far superior one (IMO) forces multiple purchases for a worse experience is frustrating.

[RitsukoSonoda]

Apologies, but this is 100% incorrect (in the States). This would be almost the opposite of regulation and could be considered price fixing which is extremely illegal.

It's not price fixing at all to offer the same title for the same price regardless of where it is purchased, be it the windows store, mac store, steam, gog, epic game store, etc because it is set by 1 entity which is the seller of the product he regulation governing this situation has to do with essentially not allowing the vendor to encourage their consumers towards usage of 1 specific distribution network over others.

Price fixing is a practice by multiple parties or sellers offering the same product or service in order to maintain prices of that product or service for their own mutual benefit. This would be something like 3 different banks collaborating to decide high interest rates they will set for a specific region for their loans and credit accounts in order for all 3 to make more money off the accounts opened in that region.

[Penthea]

I guess I just have a sour taste with this because the game is not designed for MacOS much less M1 Macs; conversely if someone looks at WoW not only is the game now native for M1 processors but you only need one copy of the game and no multiple copies of multiple expansions. They both have monthly fees and in-store cosmetics but for WoW the players only need one copy, one sub, one account, and can play on multiple platforms.

I completely get that and I would feel badly about it too if I were in your position. However WoW expansions cost more than FF expansions, which basically means they're essentially doing the discount that I mentioned SE should do in my previous post. FF expansions are cheaper but only cover one client. WoW expansions cost more but cover multiple clients.

[VisperCon]

It's not price fixing at all to offer the same title for the same price regardless of where it is purchased, be it the windows store, mac store, steam, gog, epic game store, etc because it is set by 1 entity which is the seller of the product he regulation governing this situation has to do with essentially not allowing the vendor to encourage their consumers towards usage of 1 specific distribution network over others.

Price fixing is a practice by multiple parties or sellers offering the same product or service in order to maintain prices of that product or service for their own mutual benefit. This would be something like 3 different banks collaborating to decide high interest rates they will set for a specific region for their loans and credit accounts in order for all 3 to make more money off the accounts opened in that region.

You're going to have to point to regulation that describes your point.

SE can set whatever price they want but they cannot dictate the price the sellers sell their product. If Steam wants to lose money on XIV as an acquisition strategy to increase the player count on Steam’s version of XIV, that’s on them. That’s why it’s called a suggested retail price; they are not bound by it. It’s literally why you will see items for sale at one retailer and not another, even for software. Vendors are allowed to have deals with companies, that's also why you see "pre-order bonuses" from certain retailers with exclusive add-ons or content; content that would have a price if purchased from someone else. This is especially true if a company knows that Company-A has access to much a larger player base than Company-B so they may sweeten the pot to ensure Company-A highlights the product more than Company-B. This is completely legal.

I completely get that and I would feel badly about it too if I were in your position. However WoW expansions cost more than FF expansions, which basically means they're essentially doing the discount that I mentioned SE should do in my previous post. FF expansions are cheaper but only cover one client. WoW expansions cost more but cover multiple clients.

Shadowlands and Endwalker are both $40 at launch.

[Penthea]

Shadowlands and Endwalker are both $40 at launch.

My mistake or perhaps regional pricing differs depending on your location. I know that before I paid more for WoW expansions than FF expansions. But it's been many years since I bought a WoW expansion.

Whatever the case SE should at least offer a discount to those who buy additional versions of the client for the game when bought for the same account.