July 30, 2012 http://www.rpgsite.net/interviews/39...oper-interview

RPG Site: In regards to linkshells and Free Companies, it feels like Free Companies are just another form of linkshells – why have them split into two different things?
Yoshida: They are completely different entities. Linkshells can be thought of as chat communities, with players allowed to join as many as they like. Free Companies are a complex, player-driven guild system which includes various leveling aspects.

RPG Site: Are there any plans to promote more competition between linkshells at high levels? Some sort of leaderboard at the Adventurer's Guilds which tabulates NM kills or raid clears for example, since the game is moving away from direct linkshell confrontation with the lack of open world content.
Yoshida: Free Company leveling and World server-based rankings will be implemented.
"players allowed to join as many as they like" seems like no limit (8 limit currently).

"Linkshells can be thought of as chat communities" hes stated Linkshells will be a sort of chat channel, the problem is, what if someone becomes an ahat and starts spamming? Can he be kicked? Whos allowed to Kick? Or Invite? etc, so be interesting to find out.

18. AUGUST 2012 http://jpgames.de/2012/08/gamescom-2...naoki-yoshida/

Yoshida: About the Crystal Tower and the chocobo-racing and the free companies, we cannot have this right at the launch
Dont expect free companies at launch. Things could change, but don't go "where ma company!"