The subscription-based update for troubled MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, originally due to launch at the start of December, will now launch at the beginning of the new year.
Square Enix revealed in October that the unbilled period for the game is coming to a close, and that a subscription-based system is being put in place in preparation for the Version 2.0 update, due to be released in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The subscription-based period has now been dated, and will launch on January 6, 2012, at which point any players who have not signed up to the billing option will have their accounts suspended.
The company also revealed that, until the Version 2.0 update is released, the game will see discounted subscription rates. 30 days of play will cost $6.99, 90 days is set at $17.97, and 180 day subscriptions will set you back $29.94.
Payment options will be made available via the game's client from December 16.
Version 2.0, a remade version of the game, is due to be integrated into the game between October and December 2012. The full client will then go on sale at the start of 2013 for both PC and PlayStation 3.
The PS3 version of the game was delayed back when the game launched for PC, as Square Enix said that it was looking to improve stability, performance and functionality before the launch.
I never really got the concept of MMOs with charging for the client, and then the subscription fee on top of that. It seems like a contradictory business model. I imagine they'd have a lot more subscribers if they just let you download the content package for free.
Yeah, basically they're charging players to play the old version of the game for a year before they finish re-making the game.
EDIT: Kris, you might want to amend the article; you forgot to mention that Square Enix also charges $3 per character slot, including the first, so if you only pay $6.99 you get zero character slots and can't actually play.
Prices should actually be:
30 days = $9.99
60 days = $26.97
180 days = $47.94
And that's just for one character. If you had, say, 4 characters, it would cost $18.99 for 30 days, $53.97 for 90 days, $101.94 for 180 days.
@Simon: Square has a way of shooting themselves in the foot as of late (granted I felt this way with FF11). Once they start seeing a large exodus of players their payment scheme might change.
I don't get what these guys are expecting. They release a completely horrid game which alienated and ripped of a large loyal customer fan-base, say they are sorry, throw a ridicules amount of money to remake the game, and then force those disgruntled customers to re-sub throwing even more money away for a chance to see if they screwed it up again? If they wanted to retain customers they should have refunded the purchase price of that trash heap they called a game. Some how saying "Were sorry, now pay us more to see round two." just isn't what I'm looking for.
EDIT: Kris, you might want to amend the article; you forgot to mention that Square Enix also charges $3 per character slot, including the first, so if you only pay $6.99 you get zero character slots and can't actually play.
Prices should actually be:
30 days = $9.99
60 days = $26.97
180 days = $47.94
And that's just for one character. If you had, say, 4 characters, it would cost $18.99 for 30 days, $53.97 for 90 days, $101.94 for 180 days.