Welp, the Xbox version is dead in the water. What were they thinking?

[stranded]

I wouldn't even put this wholly on SE, and would put it more on Microsoft.

I can't, and wouldn't expect SE bend the knee and negate subscription cost because it also requires Game Pass, especially when it is their game and especially when Game Pass offers benefits outside of XIV.

Would also go on and say that short of declining the launch on Xbox, then there isn't much that they could do to make Microsoft bend the knee to putting exemption on Game Pass.

I'm sure Microsoft told SE they won't allow it on their console unless Gamepass is mandatory, yeah. But they should've just not released it then. I'm really disappointed in SE and YoshiP both.

My PC can't run XIV particularly well and I was worried the graphics update would make it borderline unplayable, so I got an Xbox during a black friday sale thinking, "200 dollars for a console thats more powerful than my PC isn't bad!" Now i don't know if i'll even get the game on xbox at all. I can't afford a better PC right now and likely won't be able to until after DT launches. But gamepass being mandatory actively makes me not want to buy it there.

Funny enough? I do pay for Game Pass right now. there's a lot of games on there i've always wanted to try as someone who didn't grow up with an xbox. the series S is my first ever microsoft console. Maybe when I've exhausted the games I wanted to try i will cancel it, since cloud saves are free on xbox. But just the fact I'd NEED GP to play is completely ridiculous. Unless they do something crazy like making the game free to play on Xbox if you have a GP subscription, the whole "DT on Xbox" plan is cancelled on my end. Thanks SE.

[Mosha]

But how many are willing to pay for a second service just to play a MMO? Playstation players and PC are not double dipping to play FF.

Don't know but if it retains GP subs that's all that matters to them.

[strawberrycake]

I wouldn't even put this wholly on SE, and would put it more on Microsoft.

I can't, and wouldn't expect SE bend the knee and negate subscription cost because it also requires Game Pass, especially when it is their game and especially when Game Pass offers benefits outside of XIV.

Would also go on and say that short of declining the launch on Xbox, then there isn't much that they could do to make Microsoft bend the knee to putting exemption on Game Pass.

But they have bended knee on multiple times to Nintendo's and SOny's whims just like this in the past. This is very much how SE has always handled their relationships with console companies. It's why for so long the SE Sony exclusivity deal was such a huge deal, it's why it was constantly talked about. SE has had multiple devs say they wanna do games for other consoles and to reach more fans only to have a console deal be the main reason why that doesnt happen.

Now keep in Mind SE has lost 2 billion in Value, it only makes sense to play ball and make money on the main thing keeping your companies lights on, and to take the deal.

[Fawkes]

I assume this is trying to say "The beta won't let you log in to your regular account, so if you have an account and try to play you'll screw up your Mircrosoft account to be forever unlinkable to your main FFXIV account"?

I bet there's going to be more people that accidentally screw up their account forever than there are people who have never played the game and play it for the first time on Xbox.

[Jojoya]

I'm sure Microsoft told SE they won't allow it on their console unless Gamepass is mandatory, yeah. But they should've just not released it then. I'm really disappointed in SE and YoshiP both.

Not releasing it because of Microsoft insisting on Game Pass would accomplish what for SE?

Nothing. No one is going to praise them for sticking to a principle that almost no one cares about in this age of multiple subscription services for entertainment.

There are over 30 million Xbox owners subscribed to Game Pass according to end of 2023 reports. It's hard for a Triple A game developer to pass up such a large number.

If there's going to be any backlash from Xbox players, it's going to be at Xbox and not SE. They're the ones requiring the additional fee on top of what SE charges all its players. SE isn't the one forcing it. Players still have the option of playing through PS4/5 or PC/Mac if they don't want to have to pay the Game Pass fee.

[wereotter]

You can't even really say that SE cares at this point. PC doesn't require any sub to play online. PlayStation made a deal where they didn't have to have PlayStation plus to play xiv. How is this different? If SE cared then Microsoft players wouldnt be having to double dip just to play. The "beta" servers are going to be the live servers of the game. Not some exclusive Xbox beta servers. So if people without gamepass can play a trial then they could easily have people play the full game just the same. It's not some infrastructure or spaghetti code thing on Microsofts end either. It's just greedy. And SE is just as responsible for allowing it to happen this way.

I think you might be missing a bit of history based on your comments.

Square didn't make a deal with Sony to bypass PlayStation+ to play online because it never had to, it made it just under the wire dodging this. ARR launched on in summer 2013 for PS3, Sony didn't start requiring you to pay for PS+ to play online until it's PS4 generation came out, and Square didn't support PS4 play until Heavensward (and didn't make PS4 required to play the game until 2017 with Stormblood)

FFXIV was basically enabled to be grandfathered into Sony's old system of doing things where you didn't have to pay to access online games since it was running on PS3 rules for the first four years of its existence. Sony might have been able to try to force Square's hand in the years since, but Square really does have the upper hand here where they could tell Sony they'd just refuse to publish games on their platform if they pull this move... and since Square was one of the big developers that made Sony what is is, Sony is likely to give Square what they want.

[stranded]

Not releasing it because of Microsoft insisting on Game Pass would accomplish what for SE?

Nothing. No one is going to praise them for sticking to a principle that almost no one cares about in this age of multiple subscription services for entertainment.

There are over 30 million Xbox owners subscribed to Game Pass according to end of 2023 reports. It's hard for a Triple A game developer to pass up such a large number.

If there's going to be any backlash from Xbox players, it's going to be at Xbox and not SE. They're the ones requiring the additional fee on top of what SE charges all its players. SE isn't the one forcing it. Players still have the option of playing through PS4/5 or PC/Mac if they don't want to have to pay the Game Pass fee.

I understand what you mean. I don't think it's accurate to say "no one" would though. People always cited that very reason for it not being on Xbox yet. And people are upset about it now. But you're right, SE is a business, and as transparent as YoshiP tries to be he is still a business man. This only benefits SE and Microsoft both. It just sucks it is the way it is.

[Kranel_San]

"The Free Trial version, including the open beta test, will not require an Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) plan to play. However, the full Xbox Series X|S version will require an Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) plan to play."

This bothers me. I lost my linked PSN account. Unfortunately, ticket after ticket won't let me recover it. I've made peace with that. Luckily, I also have an Xbox. Now I don't care. Good job messing that up. Now, two subscriptions are required to play on the Xbox unless you're on the Free Trial...

You really messed up on this one. I wouldn't be surprised if this is discontinued after a time.

For many years, they didn't make an Xbox version because it would require a Game pass or a subscription like a PS+, only for the game to be released with it

Well done YoshiP.

[NanaWiloh]

For those blaming Yoshi....he does have a boss you know someone with more power and say then Yoshi himself. Could be his boss made the call and not Yoshi.

[strawberrycake]

For those blaming Yoshi....he does have a boss you know someone with more power and say then Yoshi himself. Could be his boss made the call and not Yoshi.

The reason why it usually goes to Yoshida is because of his board position. But this was most likely a talking point for the board and they most likely all agreed even if he didn't since majority rules in these types of cases. Yoshida is also on record not wanting to be on the board anymore for SE so.