The issue of the sub price in Ukraine

[mvinegret]

Hey, I'm writing this post in an attempt to bring this issue to light mostly for the veteran players in Ukraine and people who have been financially struggling as a result of the recent conflict. I live in Ukraine and I am in no way a veteran player as I've started playing the game around March of this year when the war in my country has already began

I think I speak for all Ukrainians when I say that the financial situation in our country is currently not the best, and while other MMOs have retained their pre-war pricing, FFXIV's subscription price being tied to the Euro currently makes it the most expensive sub on the market by far.

The price has risen from 260UAH to ≈430UAH due to exchange rate fluctuations, and it feels really bad to pay such a high price considering the situation in our country. A lot of people lost their jobs, a lot of people's income plummeted since February and it feels incredibly strange to see the FFXIV sub price gradually increasing, while for example the starter edition on Steam has retained it's price at 312UAH.

Just to clarify, I am not asking for anything free and I don't feel like I am obliged to receive anything for free just because my country is at war, but regional pricing is a best practice that has been adopted in a lot of storefronts, but somehow it is completely (or maybe partially) missing from FFXIV.

Hopefully this'll reach someone who can make such decisions on the game's end, because I've been loving the game to death and it would be extremely unfortunate if I won't be able to pay for a sub in case Ukraine's financial situation worsens even further.

Here is a Zepla video on the topic if you want to read more into it, since I don't think I was able to explain the situation in a most charming manner lol: https://youtu.be/rz8LsVJDeXI

[Neoyoshi]

I really find it distasteful how the media has taken a world issue and warped it into a pseudo-attack ad on Square-Enix. And the worst part is that there are people with their hearts in the right place; but man... out of all the things the media picked to highlight the issues a country is facing.

Again, a video game subscription is the LEAST of their worries, how is this not clear to people?

[mvinegret]

I don't understand why you're bringing media into this, I'm just trying to highlight a problem that I've been facing. Is a FFXIV sub price the biggest issue in Ukraine right now? Of course not, and anything else that Square Enix can do to improve the QoL of Ukrainians will be much appreciated (donations to charity etc.)

But I'm not a Ukrainian government official or something and I'm not trying to slander the devs/demand anything, I'm just a guy who's overpaying for a video game sub.

[Velvet_Lunarfang]

I don't understand why you're bringing media into this, I'm just trying to highlight a problem that I've been facing. Is a FFXIV sub price the biggest issue in Ukraine right now? Of course not, and anything else that Square Enix can do to improve the QoL of Ukrainians will be much appreciated (donations to charity etc.)

But I'm not a Ukrainian government official or something and I'm not trying to slander the devs/demand anything, I'm just a guy who's overpaying for a video game sub.

Video games are a LUXARY not a right. Sorry life is treating you badly but you have more pressing issues and getting your life in shape then a video game. You need to get your priorities straight. Sorry to be blunt but crying about how a video game is to expensive is stupid and childish when irl matters more and trying to survive.

[Shori]

If theyre in a place of safety where they are even able to log in to game then thats as much as I pray for. Its not up to SE to provide free subs.

[Sotaris]

I feel for Ukrainians. But it’s a slippery slope if we start making special subs for certain countries. I also pay more than 12 euros or whatever sub is but you don’t see me making demands for regional pricing.

[Jeeqbit]

I suppose this makes sense. You explained it well and it's more credible coming from someone actually in Ukraine.

[Dzian]

I really find it distasteful how the media has taken a world issue and warped it into a pseudo-attack ad on Square-Enix. And the worst part is that there are people with their hearts in the right place; but man... out of all the things the media picked to highlight the issues a country is facing.

Again, a video game subscription is the LEAST of their worries, how is this not clear to people?

I kinda agree with this as it is an incredibly narrow minded way of looking at things. and the impacts of the war are global. in Britain energy prices are likely to be almost 400% higher by the time 2023 hits.. an annual bill that was roughly £1,200 is forecast to be over £5,000 in january 2023.. so it's not just the ukraine whose financial situation is "not the best"

Gasoline prices as well... even basic foods and grain exports..

while i can empathize with ukraninas being in the centre of it. the impact is global and pointing the finger at Square-Enix is incredibly dumb.

[Jaquan]

SNIP

Oh look and I live in Poland. You know we're in same basket? We pay in Euro and our National Currency keeps fluctuating between highs and lows while our average wage is lowe than that in majority of EU nations. You're not the only ones overpaying for the Sub.

[Dubolomus]

1. Square-Enix itself does not make regional prices. Steam makes them. And he does them not out of the kindness of his heart, but on the assumption that without them the profit will be lower due to the departure of the players.

2. If you want to help Ukrainian players, then who prevents you from creating a fund and transferring money there to pay for the game.

Sorry for the bad English.