Oh, Square Enix… When will you learn? Sometimes when you make a mess, it's best that you just sweep it under the rug, and act like it never happened in the first place. Considering how bad the reception was to Final Fantasy XIV, this would be our recommended course of action. But Square Enix doesn't know when to throw in the towel and is instead planning to release Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 next winter.
Up to this point, Final Fantasy XIV has been free in an attempt to lure players into trying the trainwreck. Square Enix plans to begin the paid subscriptions starting in December of 2011, likely to foot the bill for all of the changes they're making to the upgrade version. Version 2.0 will then be integrated into the current game starting in December 2012. After that in Q1 2013, the full 2.0 client will go on sale for both PC and PS3. A PS3 version of the game has never been released thus far.
Square promises revamped maps to reduce that repetitive feel and completely overhaul the graphics engine. There will be a revamped user interface as well and new servers to improve speed and performance.
They're definitely pushing hard to make FFXIV a success, but with the name already so tarnished, it could all be for naught.
[Source]
