What have you done Square Enix? Can't use my regular Windows account with Steam version anymore with this patch.

[Keebz]

For years I've been using the Steam version of FFXIV to boot up the launcher, but I've been logging in with my non-steam account instead. Why? I like to have all of my games on Steam, and this allows me to keep FFXIV nicely in my Steam Library without being subject to the restrictions of the Steam version (in regards to registering expansions). It's also easier for me to manage my library and not forget about games I own outside of Steam, which often happens to me. I also like having the built-in community and screenshot features.

Yeah, I know you can add the regular version of the game as a non-steam game. I don't care about that. Why? Because it's not officially in my Steam Library if I do that. I can't feature it on my Steam profile as my favorite game, or track the hours played the same way I can now. It may seem stupid to some of you--if so, the thing you need to understand is that there was literally no harm caused by allowing me to log in the old way, and this new update now greets me with a message that "FINAL FANTASY XIV has not yet been registered with this service account or your subscription has expired. To play the game, you must first complete the registration process using the registration code included with your purchase."

It essentially forces you to log in with a Steam account now. I know I'm not the only one affected by this. I've read comments from others who got the game on Steam just so they could use it as an easy way to download their game and keep it a part of their steam library, even though they were logging in with non-steam accounts.

Long story short, whatever change they implemented with this patch has broken my ability to log in the way that I like to, and regardless of what people may think I shouldn't have to justify my desire for this feature to return. I see no harm in letting regular Windows account users log in with the Steam version's launcher. We've been able to all this time, why take away that option? It's infuriating, and it's like they've stolen my purchase back from me. Steam version that I paid for is useless now.
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UPDATE: as someone discovered and mentioned in this thread, if you download the program "Steam Edit" you can find Final Fantasy XIV Online in the list and click Edit Launch, change the ffxivboot.exe to read ffxivboot64.exe, delete the default "-issteam" text, and hit Save and Refresh. Then when steam is restarted you will be able to launch it the way we have always been able to. It's annoying, but that's what it is for now...Follow these directions exactly and it should work. I tried a few other methods and it caused the game to hang for a good 20 seconds before loading up but this method worked flawlessly.

Just goes to show they've done nothing but inconvenience us with this pointless change since people will always find a way to bypass stupid restrictions.

[MrNemesis]

So I purchased both and now they deny me my login from steam. So i pay for your game and you deny me on that platform which you were allowing thats the real fraud.

[TneX]

So that's why I can't log in anymore. ETA on when this madness is being reverted?

[VanGoghComplex]

Escrito originalmente por TneX:

So that's why I can't log in anymore. ETA on when this madness is being reverted?

It'll be reverted as soon as you start the game in a manner consistent with the product key you purchased, for certain...

I seriously doubt they'll revert this. The reason they did it has to have been monetary.

[Rhomagus]

Escrito originalmente por VanGoghComplex:

Curious. I bought my game though Steam, registered my Steam code, and launch the game via a Steam desktop shortcut. Am I gonna have problems later today?

You can add "-issteam" to your shortcuts launcher options and it will still launch outside of Steam, completely negating the demographic for whom this change was intended.

Unlike ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ suckers like myself who bought a Windows version, then purchased the Steam version in order to launch through Steam. Here I am, sitting on keys that I can't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ use because SE suddenly decided to start treating the PC platform as separate from the Steam platform while the Mogstation doesn't recognize the difference.

[Bha]

So literally the only affected by this are those who purchased an extra copy just to be able to run from STEAM.

GGWP

[Monterossa]

For people who play with non-Steam account but want Steam to track your play time, you can play the game without Steam, and then run the launcher through Steam and leave the launcher running so Steam can record your play time.

You can't use Steam overlay but it's kinda useless anyway.

[Rhomagus]

Escrito originalmente por Monterossa:

For people who play with non-Steam account but want Steam to track your play time, you can play the game without Steam, and then run the launcher through Steam and leave the launcher running so Steam can record your play time.

You can't use Steam overlay but it's kinda useless anyway.

I use the Steam controller to play. The overlay is far from useless but a requirement in order for me to play the game the way I've been playing for the past three years. Not to mention all the other community features that go along with it.

If they would just allow us to register our Steam keys on the mogstation non of this would be a problem. I'd just register my unused Steam keys and keep playing as I have been. The arbitrary lockout is useless if anything.

[Elijah Grimm]

Bought and played through Steam, now I can't play at all. G ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ G. This is the most stupid ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thing I've seen

[Tirathi]

Escrito originalmente por Rhomagus:

You can add "-issteam" to your shortcuts launcher options and it will still launch outside of Steam, completely negating the demographic for whom this change was intended.

So, I am playing the game from my partner's steam account since he doesn't play it anymore but I do. Could just launch the game from the normal launcher tho and can not now.
Does this mean that if I just download the steam game from his account on my pc I can play the game without using his steam account making him unable to play whatever game he wants to play at the same time?

[Zero9]

It's literally garbage. SE causes more problems than they're ''trying'' to solve. My left analog stick moved the camera and the character. I managed to fix that on the gamepad settings to calibrate controller. Later. the game somehow turned to windowed mode and the on-screen keyboard from ''big picture screen'' somehow popped up even though I'm not supposed to play it via steam but I did it regardless. So to remove that I had to shut down Steam.

I booted up steam while in-game to check what my friends were up to, but then I had the same issue with the controller and going back to controller calibration did not fix it as it did previously. The game is literally unplayable with controller if steam is running in the background.
Damn you Square Enix, just damn you

[Zyliart]

Just sat through the 40+ minute live chat support queue. They confirmed that last night's patch now requires Non-steam players to use the official client downloaded on their website.

Still frustrating to get back from work to experience.

[Tirathi]

O btw, downloading and using shortcut didn't work for me. Still had to go online on steam to use the game and really didn't want to argue over who can play things when :P but! I could just buy the base game and login from my steam with the other registered square enix account and start downloading. So for the ones in a simular situation as I. This you can do

[Fonou]

I agree. This is very bad...
I bought the Steam version and gave the code to someone else as a gift 5 years ago... Please SE and Valve, reverse to what it was...
I can't track my hours and take picture in game now.

[VanGoghComplex]

Escrito originalmente por Fonou:

I agree. This is very bad...
I bought the Steam version and gave the code to someone else as a gift 5 years ago... Please SE and Valve, reverse to what it was...
I can't track my hours and take picture in game now.

You are aware that FFXIV has a screenshot function independent of Steam, right?

[Mewi]

I encourage all of those effected by this, to do what I did and write a negative review. This is literally stealing our money by locking us out of the game features we paid for, not just once, but twice. We have a windows key and a steam key they wont let us apply.

This is their fault, not ours, they should own up and fix this problem that has been lingering for years, even before this. I want my steam hour tracking and screenshot features back.

https://steamcommunity.com/id/mewi/recommended/39210?snr=1_5_9__402

For windows key users running steam client, you can add -isnonsteam at the end of your shortcut. You will need to go to the installation folder, create a shortcut for ffxivboot.exe and change the target to this. ( For example, directories may be different for you )

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\boot\ffxivboot.exe" -isnonsteam

Thank you FFXIV Reddit moderator Din for helping me out on this matter.

But you still lose, hour tracking, steam screenshot upload features...