Final Fantasy XIV Online debuted over 10 years ago and, despite a rocky start, managed to stay relevant and become one of the most popular MMORPGs on the market. For a long time, it was only available for PlayStation and PC consoles, but it finally arrived on Xbox. However, its launch on Microsoft's platforms was not without its problems.
The multiplayer video game from Square Enix held a Beta period in early 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, and it wasn't until March 21st that it finally officially debuted on that platform. Additionally, users have until April 19th to redeem the Starter Edition with their Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership.
It seems that thousands of players responded to the call and began playing the Japanese MMORPG on their Microsoft consoles; however, a misunderstanding has already caused some fans to receive an unjustified ban.
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Final Fantasy XIV Fans Banned Due to an Xbox Error
Through a post on Reddit, user TGB_B20k shared his case and caught the community's attention. Specifically, he revealed that, after trying to recruit some players for his Free Company, he received a ban that will prevent him from using the console's online functions for 60 days.
For those unfamiliar with Final Fantasy XIV, Free Companies are the communities that make up the guild or clan system. Basically, players join a group where they can collaborate with others to complete missions or share resources.
TGB_B20k theorizes that the term "Free Company" is what caused the problem. As explained in his post, it seems that Xbox confuses this concept and thinks it refers to self-promotion or has some double meaning that violates community standards.
"I filed an appeal, and it was denied, and I have no idea what else to do. All I did was use the correct name," wrote the player in the comments section. He explained that, according to the message he received from the support team, his account "violated community standards and was subject to coercive measures."
In response to that post, other Final Fantasy XIV players claimed that they also received bans under similar circumstances. "A friend of mine received a 2-day suspension for including a recruitment code. He called, and they told him that even if it was wrong, they couldn't do anything because it's a very short ban, and he should just wait," said one person.
It is unknown if this is a widespread issue, but it's best for players to be cautious and avoid recruiting other users until Square Enix addresses the situation and provides a solution.
Recently, a bug was discovered that allowed users to unjustifiably ban a player from Xbox. It seems that the console's automated reporting system is far from perfect.
But tell us, were you one of the affected players? Let us hear from you in the comments or on our Discord.
Final Fantasy XIV is available for PS4, PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
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