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Final Fantasy XI welcomes back old players with a free week
If you once walked the fields of Vana'diel in Final Fantasy XI but haven't been back in some time, you've missed a lot of updates. The game's run for 13 years now, after all; whenever you stopped playing, it's likely a lot of new content awaits you. And if you've got the hankering to check back in and see if it's how you remember, you can do so for a week. Completely free. Until September 17th, former players can log in for free and explore all of the content available in the game. Players will need to transfer their old PlayOnline IDs to Square-Enix IDs if they have not done so already. A promotional video has also been released, detailing some of the changes made to the game for its current incarnation. So if you've got a hankering to step back into the world of Vana'diel, now might be the time to do so.
Final Fantasy XIV beckons former players with Legacy and Welcome Back campaigns
Square-Enix is rolling out the welcome mat for former players of its Final Fantasy XIV MMORPG. The company has announced two new promotional campaigns, the first of which is aimed at players who have paid for at least 90 days of sub time since January 6th, 2012. You should be getting an email from Square if you're eligible, and you'll receive a discount on your monthly sub ($9.99 for 30 days) as well as 40 playable character slots on your account (with a maximum of eight per world). Legacy members will also get an exclusive chocobo mount with version 2.0 as well as the option to have their names listed in the update's credits. Square's second announcement concerns the Welcome Back Campaign, which is intended to stoke the interest of former players with inactive service accounts. Eorzean ex-patriots can come back for free between May 9th and May 20th. During the 10-day trial, you can take part in the "once-in-a-lifetime" Seventh Umbral Era content and experience the new job system and inn room updates. Finally, Naoki Yoshida has published a new producer's letter that expounds on the campaigns as well as the game's future. [Thanks to William for the tip!]
PlayStation Store, Qriocity returning to Japan this week, completing global PSN restoration
Sony's 'Welcome Back' campaign may have drawn to a close a bit early, but the PlayStation Network won't make its full return to Japan until later this week. As of July 6th, Japanese gamers will once again be able to access the PlayStation Store and Qriocity, bringing an end to a nearly three-month suspension enacted after April's widespread data breach. These services have already been reintroduced across other parts of the globe, but Sony encountered notably stiffer resistance in its homeland, where authorities demanded assurance of the PSN's security before allowing it to relaunch within their borders. The PlayStation Store remained down throughout Sony's negotiations with government officials, but company spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka says those discussions have advanced far enough for full services to resume. The PSN's long-awaited return to Japan will also signal its full global restoration, meaning that Sony may finally be able to put the saga to rest -- and try to forget about that $170 million it lost in the process.
