Online System Information

PlayOnline service & Friends Lists
The original PlayOnline system which was used in Final Fantasy XI won't be utilized by Final Fantasy XIV. In order to accommodate players of the first Final Fantasy MMO, there will be a legacy Friends List import feature made available.

Legacy character transfers
In part due to the different online system players won't be able to port their Final Fantasy XI characters to Final Fantasy XIV. In addition to this limitation, the facts that Final Fantasy XIV takes place in a different setting with an all new story including similar yet different racesare key factors in SquareEnix's decision to not allow transfers.

Game server and platform information
The game's servers will be worldwide (thus not locked to a specific region), and will support cross-platform play just as in the original MMO. PC and Playstation 3 users (and eventually XBox 360 users should a version be announced for that platform) will be able to play with each other on the same servers. A player who owns multiple versions can choose an online account to log into from the platform of their choice. Square Enix ID's are not locked to a platform, allowing players to continue playing from where they left off, regardless of which platform they utilize.

The maximum population is expected to be between 5000 and 6000 players. How many servers expected to be available at the title's release is unknown at this time.

Subscription pricing
Pricing for Final Fantasy XIV subscriptions was announced on 30 June, 2010.

The base monthly fee will be $12.99. Each subscription includes one playable character and one retainer. Each additional playable character up to a maximum of 8 will cost $3 per month. Additional retainer (which have no known defined limit) will cost $1 each month.

It is unknown at this time if longer periods of game time than one month will be made available in a subscription plan.

There is no expectation of an item shop or cash shop in the game.