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SQUARE ENIX PULLS MAC FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE

FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE: A REALM REBORN / 5 JUL 2015

SQUARE ENIX PULLS FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE: A REALM REBORN MAC SALES, ISSUES REFUNDS

Lack of information on Mac version system requirements partially blamed.

BY JENNA PITCHER

Square Enix is suspending sales of the issue plagued Mac version of Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn and is offering refunds to those who bought the role-playing game on the platform.

“We have received a great deal of feedback regarding the performance of the Mac version, as well as various problems which resulted from the information we provided prior to its release,” producer and director Naoki Yoshida writes in a post to fans on the Square Enix forums. “For these issues, we apologize.”

The Mac version launched alongside the latest expansion pack, called Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, on June 23. Once released, players began reporting serious performance issues with the Mac version and its client.

Not releasing updated and accurate system requirements prior to the game’s release was identified by the company a serious issue, unintentionally misleading players whether their machines can handle the MMORPG.

"Although our development and QA teams tested the client on Mac hardware, because of our last minute efforts to improve performance and the possibility that system requirements might change, we decided to prepare several versions of these requirements, with the one to be released depending on the final result," Yoshida writes. "However, in the chaos leading up to the multi-platform launch of our expansion, we released incorrect requirements, which were not updated prior to the Mac version official release.

"Because of this situation, many of you purchased a product which your Mac hardware could not run at even the minimum system requirements, resulting in insufficient performance, for which many of you have expressed your dissatisfaction. Had we provided accurate information beforehand, I know many of you would not have purchased the Mac version, which is why we decided to offer full refunds."

Yoshida indicates that the premature release of the Mac version prior to completion of final maintenance also contributed to the game’s performance issues.

“In order to address several issues prior to the Mac version release, we planned to conduct maintenance which would conclude on June 23rd at 6:00 PM (JST)," he writes. "However, due to our miscommunication with retailers, the Mac version was made available earlier than intended. As a result, some customers were able to download and play a pre-release build which suffered from performance problems.”

Sales of the Mac version will recommence once Square Enix is satisfied with the product information and system requirements. Detailed information on system requirements and screen resolution is expected to be released soon.

For those seeking refunds, instructions for both retail and digital downloads editions are outlined on the Square Enix forum post. The game is still playable for those who bought it on the platform even though sales have been suspended. 

IGN’s Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn review on PC, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 gave the game an 8.6, saying the experince was “grounded in tradition and learning from the lessons of the games that preceded it, it thrives on the strength of its excitingly varied and flexible class system and highly mobile combat.”   

 

 

 
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The Weary Warriors Gaming Guild has the single purpose to forge and strengthen camaraderie between a group of mature game hobbyists. The company of good people becomes the best part of all of the games we play. While we strive to excel in the games we play with or against each other, excellence of character will always be more important than gaming skill.

 

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