Starting on 22nd July, Final Fantasy XIV China will be entering its none-wipe test phase, where data from this point on will be kept. Publisher Shanda Games announced that this will be followed by an Open Beta phase, which will also be the start of commercialization. For now, no unique content was revealed.
To enter the none-wipe test phase, players will have to fork out 39 CNY (6.30 USD) for access. Shanda Games claimed that the 39 CNY will be added back to players’ account once commercial service begins (to be deducted once the time prices are confirmed), along with various virtual goodies.
Compared to the previous Pay-to-Play game, RIFT China, Shanda acted rather mild this time with the marketing, preferring to let the game itself walk the talk instead of holding ridiculous campaigns. The only 2 major games still using this business model in China are World of Warcraft, and by a far mile, Aion.
