Steam vs Non-Steam game version

[Karsui]

I know that Non-Steam version can be played at Windows, Mac and PS, while Steam version... is stuck with Steam only.
But what about prices and subscriptions? Do you pay them directly via Steam or at website only? Are the options (for 1/3/6 months) and prices same in both versions?
And what about discounts / sales?
Any other pros/cons?

[tathen]

Originally posted by Karsui:

Any other pros/cons?

if the legion of hamsters powering the steam servers die you cant login to FFXIV until they get replaced

[Sunny]

Windows and Steam are not compatible; you can have every other platform together (playstation, mac, windows or playstation, mac, steam)

You have to buy a license for every platform you use it on separately

Square Enix site has sales more regularly

Steam signup process seems to be REALLY difficult for some people

Steam payments seem to be REALLY difficult for some people

The options 1/3/6 months are the same -- you choose what you're buying on the Mogstation (the site you manage your FFXIV account on), and Steam is an option for payment IF you are using the Steam version

Base game and the first expansion come in the basic game purchase; the rest of the expansions come with Endwalker.

[Rhyagelle]

The options are basically the same, it's the process to getting to those options that are different.

Sales happen almost ALL of the time on non-Steam, plus if Steam is every down*, you wouldn't be affected by it because of the stand alone launcher. Those are basically the only PROs and no real cons.

[Tatsumi]

I want to point out since a lot of people suggest against buying the game on steam, that I've the game here since Heavensward came out and I have NEVER had any issue with accessing the game, buying expansions and subscriptions. If you read around you'll see that most of the people that had issues with steam have a strong lack of understanding of computers in general.
At the end of the day, if you use steam daily get it here, if you'd only open steam for FF, get it from Square Enix website.

[Alternity]

Originally posted by Tatsumi:

I want to point out since a lot of people suggest against buying the game on steam, that I've the game here since Heavensward came out and I have NEVER had any issue with accessing the game, buying expansions and subscriptions. If you read around you'll see that most of the people that had issues with steam have a strong lack of understanding of computers in general.

I guess it depends where you live and which Steam server is the closest to you, because while Steam being down is not super frequent, it did prevent me from playing the game a few times.

The tl;dr is basically how stable do you think Steam is for you, is it stableenough to let you play whenever you want to play? Are you willing to risk that if Steam is down for whatever reason you can't play the game? I always have that PSN shutdown that lasted months back on PS3 in the back of my mind, these things don't happen often, but you never know when they will happen.

(for reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_PlayStation_Network_outage)

Some people will say "oh but this is sony, not steam". I'd like to reiterate that you never know when a shutdown or an outage will happen. Last summer in Canada an entire ISP shutdown for a few days because of an update gone wrong (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Rogers_Communications_outage). I'm sure there are many examples of giant companies being offline for different reasons.

Having to rely on 2 services to be online to play the game instead of one increases the chances of failure, it doesn't matter what way you look at it.

[Tatsumi]

Originally posted by Alternity:

I guess it depends where you live and which Steam server is the closest to you, because while Steam being down is not super frequent, it did prevent me from playing the game a few times.

The tl;dr is basically how stable do you think Steam is for you, is it stableenough to let you play whenever you want to play? Are you willing to risk that if Steam is down for whatever reason you can't play the game? I always have that PSN shutdown that lasted months back on PS3 in the back of my mind, these things don't happen often, but you never know when they will happen.

(for reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_PlayStation_Network_outage)

Some people will say "oh but this is sony, not steam". I'd like to reiterate that you never know when a shutdown or an outage will happen. Last summer in Canada an entire ISP shutdown for a few days because of an update gone wrong (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Rogers_Communications_outage). I'm sure there are many examples of giant companies being offline for different reasons.

Having to rely on 2 services to be online to play the game instead of one increases the chances of failure, it doesn't matter what way you look at it.

Yes I agree with you on everything. I just see lots of complains about issues regarding linking an account on steam, paying for sub through steam wallet, expansions and all that and I wanted to reassure them about these things. Your message adds up very valid points.

[lekynus]

Originally posted by Karsui:

I know that Non-Steam version can be played at Windows, Mac and PS, while Steam version... is stuck with Steam only.

Its a lie!!!!!
You CAN use your characters from a Steam version in a PS4/PS5 version and MAC Version, BUT you NEED buy the PS4/PS5 license and the MAC license.

Originally posted by Karsui:

But what about prices and subscriptions? Do you pay them directly via Steam or at website only?

If you want pay with Steam Wallet you need choose this option in MogStation.

Originally posted by Karsui:

Are the options (for 1/3/6 months) and prices same in both versions?

Same price, but to Brazil and Russia is more cheaper pay with Steam Wallet.
Options for 3 and 6 months are avaliable only for Standard Subscription.

[Izeyash]

Originally posted by tathen:

Originally posted by Karsui:

Any other pros/cons?

if the legion of hamsters powering the steam servers die you cant login to FFXIV until they get replaced

Not entirely correct. Square Enix is the one saying steam NEEDS to be online, other games can play in offline mode.

So in short, it's because of SE's ♥♥♥♥♥♥ implementation. :)

[omegazeda]

Yes, non-steam version is superior. I've been using it since 2014 and never had any problems.

[Cuponoodle]

to add to what others have said if you buy steam for no other reason than to just have it here to see your playtime or whatever you will be locking yourself into paying more for future expansions. Example I got 10 copies of endwalker collectors for around $44 each pre-release from gmg. Steam would have paid the full price.

Regional price is better on steam or atleast I am told... but I don't benefit from that.

[Karsui]

Thanks everyone for answers. I will go with the non-steam version then.

[WillB]

Related question, If I'm playing the free trial on steam, can I buy the non-steam Windows version and continue my character, or will my character only be available if I buy the steam version?

[lekynus]

Originally posted by WillB:

can I buy the non-steam Windows version and continue my character, or will my character only be available if I buy the steam version?

No, you need buy the Steam version in this case.

[weiss]

Originally posted by WillB:

Related question, If I'm playing the free trial on steam, can I buy the non-steam Windows version and continue my character, or will my character only be available if I buy the steam version?

in that case need you to to stay sadly with steam.
if you had started the free trial via the non-steam version (aka from the SE page) would you have the choice between, console, mac, windows or steam.

i for example started my free trial via non-steam version and since they had back then no paypal (now they do, i think) choosen i steam. i was aswell one of the ... luckyones? i guess? where i had absolutely no problems with the registration to full version and linking it to steam.

but yea, i believe, if you start the trial via steam need you to stick with steam because your trial is already linked to steam. i mean, you can check it on your mogstation. if it says "free trail and behind it stands in brackeds steam then ... well, you are already tied to steam.