GENERAL
FFXI works on a monthly payment basis that operates through PlayOnline when you access your ffxi accounts. Final Fantasy XIV will not be using PlayOnline, but it will be using the recently established Square Enix Member Accounts and Security Tokens.
The developers plan on having a different system altogether with Final Fantasy 14, opting for a more versatile plan. They plan to process payments on a 30-day cycle, allowing the less serious gamers to stop paying more easily.
Final Fantasy 11 players will recognize the frustrations behind the current billing cycle and how the registration servers go off for a few days every month in order to process payments. This leads players being unable to activate or deactivate their ffxi characters as well as edit billing information. So, in the event you’ve changed cards and forgot to change it, you’d be locked out of the game for a few days. The development team insists that with this new billing method, this won’t be a problem anymore.
All I have to say is thank you because the PlayOnline system was awful and one of the things that ruined the game all together. Accessing your FFXI account should be a simple step process, and PlayOnline did none of that!
Rest assured, we will be offering FFXIV accounts as soon as the game beta launches!