licensed on another platform

[AKUDA]

hey guys so i used to play ff online last in 2017 so i decided to come back so i re downloaded the client from the site (not steam) but when i input my id and password it say my square enix account for final fantasy online is licensed on another platform , even though i always played it on pc , any ideas ? oh im using a new pc if that has anything to do with the problem ???

[FreshMint]

Steam and the standalone clients are considered different platforms as far as licenses go.

[RydenRLD]

You have to play on Steam if you bought through Steam, or the Windows launcher if bought through a non steam vendor. The two editions, though both PC, are considered "different platforms". You also need to use the same steam account that originally purchased the game as well (I don't see the icon saying you own the game on this account). If you used the free trial, the rules are the same but when buying you can elect to swap between Steam and Windows when registering the full game license, but can never change from that again.

[Sunny]

Originally posted by Hajin:

If you used the free trial, the rules are the same but when buying you can elect to swap between Steam and Windows when registering the full game license, but can never change from that again.

They have ended this functionality, unless you can find documentation otherwise. Last few times somebody has tried via suggestions from people here, it hasn't worked according to folks reporting back. They've all been locked into the platform they started the trial on.

If you can find directions that work, it would be helpful not just for OP, but for the community in general.

[RydenRLD]

Originally posted by Sunny:

If you used the free trial, the rules are the same but when buying you can elect to swap between Steam and Windows when registering the full game license, but can never change from that again.

Yeah, from looking it up, it appears to have been restricted, but only in one direction. You can register a Windows free trial to a Steam paid copy, but cannot register a Steam free trial to a Windows paid copy. Really dumb it's one way only. Guessing it's an issue with how Steam acts in regards to game licenses.

[Sunny]

Right, that's supposedly been the case for a while (only WindowsTrial->SteamFull), but the last few times somebody has told someone that they could WindowsTrial->SteamFull (talking last 6 months or so), said person came back with questions because it didn't work and nobody could provide directions that DID work.

There's a button somewhere in the directions floating about that no longer exists on Mogstation, iirc.

I am not saying that the people that reported this were correct, but I'm hoping for somebody who is actively sure it works to provide directions that work on the process so that we don't end up with more folks wasting money. That's an awful introduction to the game.

[AKUDA]

Just found out even its a free trial on the site but as long you have an expansion you need to activate a monthly payment sub to let you log in

[RydenRLD]

Originally posted by AKUDA:

Just found out even its a free trial on the site but as long you have an expansion you need to activate a monthly payment sub to let you log in

Correct. Free trial is only free until the game is purchased. At that time the account must be subscribed to for all future playing. A paid edition cannot be reverted back to a free trial account, regardless of character level.

You can make a new account if not progressed far, and then proceed that way, but you'd in the end need to repurchase the game once wanted.