View source for PlayOnline

{{short description|Online gaming service by Square Enix}}
{{Distinguish|PlayOnLinux}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox company
|name = 
|logo = PlayOnline logo.png
|logo_size = 
|logo_caption = PlayOnline service logo
|native_name = 
|native_name_lang = ja
|former_names =
|type = Subsidiary
|industry = [[Internet service provider|Internet services]]<br/>[[Software|Computer software]]<br/>[[Digital distribution]]
|founded = {{start date and age|2000|6|6}} 
|founders = 
|location_city =
|location_country = Japan
|area_served = Worldwide
|key_people = 
|products = 
|num_employees = 
|divisions = 
|subsid =
|parent = [[Square Enix]]
|owner = [[Square Enix|Square Enix Holdings]]
|homepage = 
}}

'''PlayOnline''' is an online gaming service owned by [[Square Enix]] as the launcher application and Internet service for many of the online PC, [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox 360]] games the company publishes. Launched on June 6, 2000, the service hosted games including ''[[Front Mission Online]]'', ''[[Fantasy Earth Zero|Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion]]'', ''[[Tetra Master]]'', and the Japanese releases of ''[[EverQuest II]]'', ''[[Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII]]'' and ''JongHoLo''. As of 2025, however, the PC version of ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' is the only remaining game supported by the service.

PlayOnline was one of the first cross-platform gaming services, and hosted hundreds of thousands of players at its peak. It was shut down for twelve days during the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 earthquake in Japan]]. The platform was also subjected to [[denial of service]] attacks and players attempting to cheat were subsequently banned. Starting with ''[[Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)|Final Fantasy XIV]]'', Square Enix began moving their online games off the service as membership declined. The termination date for ''Final Fantasy XI'' and PlayOnline on PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 was March 2016, with only the PC version of ''Final Fantasy XI'' still supported.

==History==
===Launch===
PlayOnline was originally conceived as an all-in-one solution to house multiple types of game content.<ref name="turnoff"/> At the "Square Millennium" event in Japan in January 2000, Square announced ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy X|X]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy XI|XI]]'', with the last scheduled to release in the summer of 2001, and that they had been working on an online portal called PlayOnline with Japanese telecom company [[NTT Communications]], which would feature online games, chat, email, online comics, Internet browsing, online shopping, sports, and [[instant messaging]].<ref name="millennium">{{cite web | title=Breaking News: Square Millennium | date=January 28, 2000 | author=Yukiyoshi Ike Sato | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/breaking-news-square-millennium/1100-2455408/ | work=[[GameSpot]] | access-date=March 4, 2013}}</ref> The service was first announced as costing ¥500 for monthly membership, and a ¥1000 monthly user fee.<ref name="announce"/> ''Final Fantasy XI'', then nicknamed ''Final Fantasy Online'', was the first game to use the online service.<ref name="announce">{{cite web |author=Gabe Wollenburg |title=Square Announces Pay-Online Play Online |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2000/071800a.html |work=RPGamer |access-date=March 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202144831/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2000/071800a.html |archive-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref> The [[WonderSwan Color]] portable gaming system was also planned to be able to connect to PlayOnline through an adapter connected to one of the [[PlayStation 2]]'s USB ports.<ref name="usb">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff |date=August 30, 2000 |title=WONDERSWAN COLOR CONNECTS TO PLAYONLINE VIA PS2 |url=http://m.ign.com/articles/2000/08/31/wonderswan-color-connects-to-playonline-via-ps2 |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423002109/http://m.ign.com/articles/2000/08/31/wonderswan-color-connects-to-playonline-via-ps2 |archive-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref>

PlayOnline opened on June 6, 2000, to both Japanese and English speaking countries with news about upcoming software titles, interviews, and wallpapers.<ref name="opening">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff |date=June 6, 2000 |title=Square Opens PlayOnline.com |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/07/square-opens-playonlinecom |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924053910/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/07/square-opens-playonlinecom |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> The site's merchandise included pieces from ''[[Parasite Eve (video game)|Parasite Eve]]'', ''[[Vagrant Story]]'', ''[[Chocobo Racing]]'', ''[[Front Mission]]'', ''[[Chrono Cross]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy]]''.<ref name="merch">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff |date=August 18, 2000 |title=PlayOnline Displays Cool Square Stuff |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/19/playonline-displays-cool-square-stuff |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006154827/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/19/playonline-displays-cool-square-stuff |archive-date=October 6, 2012}}</ref>

To encourage early adoption prior to the release of ''Final Fantasy XI'', Square partnered with [[BradyGames]] to publish a paperback [[strategy guide]] for ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]''. The guide became notorious for barely containing any actual guidance. Instead, it asked players multiple times on each page to visit PlayOnline to obtain the solutions to puzzles, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-worst-strategy-guide-ever-made-1702827492|title=The Worst Strategy Guide Ever Made|first=Jason|last=Schreier|website=Kotaku |date=September 21, 2017 }}</ref> Initial plans to utilize PlayOnline with ''Final Fantasy X'' were eventually scrapped.<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine = PlayStation: The Official Magazine| publisher = Future Publishing| title = Monitor: Final Fantasy X Goes Offline| author = PSM Staff| issue = 42| date = February 2001| page = 18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Avistetto |first=Jimmy |title=Final Fantasy X Not Online-Capable |url=http://rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/112000b.html |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206042126/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/112000b.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Service===
PlayOnline was seen as part of [[Sony]]'s strategy to turn the [[PlayStation 2]] into an Internet [[set-top box]]. Accordingly, Sony brought broadband equipment and a hard drive to the PlayStation 2.<ref name="disk">{{cite web|author=Anoop Gantayat |date=May 28, 2002 |title=PS2 BroadBand and PlayOnline Tested |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/28/ps2-broadband-and-playonline-tested |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123957/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/28/ps2-broadband-and-playonline-tested |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> The quality of the browser was noted in its "clean" graphics, excellent page layouts, and "high quality sound".<ref name="disk"/> The browser was not a general purpose Internet tool, but only accessed Square content, such as news about Square products and a comic-strip walkthrough of ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]''.<ref name="disk"/>

Porting ''Final Fantasy XI'' to the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] proved difficult due to compatibility issues greater than was hoped for between [[Xbox Live]] and PlayOnline, likely because the latter was designed first.<ref name="xboxes">{{cite web|author=John McCarroll |date=July 18, 2007 |title=E3 2007: Square Enix Impressions and Interviews - Final Fantasy XI Interview |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/squareenix2007/ffxi.html |work=RPGfan |access-date=April 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305133954/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/squareenix2007/ffxi.html |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> After negotiation, [[Xbox 360]] players were able to play the game through PlayOnline's servers exclusively, despite [[Microsoft]]'s initial wish that Square Enix would use its own platform.<ref name="xboxes"/> Downloadable content was also not available on the platform since the game played through PlayOnline.<ref name="xboxes"/> It was hoped that content would eventually be offered through the [[Xbox Live Marketplace]].<ref name="xboxes"/> ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'' started out as a game designed for the PlayOnline game platform.<ref name="Ffxii">{{cite web|author=GameSpot Staff |date=November 30, 2003 |title=Q&A: Final Fantasy XII developers |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-xii-developers/1100-6084068/ |work=GameSpot |access-date=April 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512201651/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-xii-developers/1100-6084068/ |archive-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

===Security and outages===
In February 2005, 800 players were banned from ''Final Fantasy XI'' and the card game ''[[Tetra Master]]'' for monopolizing areas where high level items and monsters would spawn, making it impossible for other players to become stronger.<ref name="banned">{{cite web|author=Nich Maragos |date=February 16, 2005 |title=Square Enix Bans Over 800 PlayOnline Accounts |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/square-enix-bans-over-800-playonline-accounts |work=Gamasutra |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216233739/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4972 |archive-date=February 16, 2013}}</ref>

On April 9, 2005, a distributed [[denial of service attack]] against PlayOnline's servers shut down ''Final Fantasy XI'' access for players in North America and Europe for three hours: the attack continued for over a week, leading Square Enix to involve law enforcement.<ref name="law">{{cite web|author=GameSpot Staff |date=April 18, 2005 |title='Final Fantasy XI' under attack |url=http://news.cnet.com/Final-Fantasy-XI-under-attack/2100-1043_3-5675514.html |work=[[CNET]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211155801/http://news.cnet.com/Final-Fantasy-XI-under-attack/2100-1043_3-5675514.html |archive-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> At the time, Square Enix did not reveal if the Japanese server which hosted ''[[Front Mission Online]]'', ''[[Fantasy Earth]]'', and Japanese players of ''[[EverQuest II]]'' were affected.<ref name="law"/>

A new security system for players by Square Enix began on April 6, 2009, involving a security token that players could purchase for $9.99 and including an in-game bonus called a "Mog Satchel".<ref name="satchel">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff |date=March 31, 2009 |title=Square Enix Announces New Security System |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/31/square-enix-announces-new-security-system |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423190141/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/31/square-enix-announces-new-security-system |archive-date=April 23, 2013}}</ref>

After Japan's 2011 earthquake, Square Enix disabled servers to conserve energy due to the incapacitated state of the region's nuclear power plant. This led to a temporary halt of the ''Final Fantasy XIV'', ''XI'' and PlayOnline games and services from March 13 to 25.<ref name="japan">{{cite magazine|author=David Murphy |date=March 13, 2011 |title=After Earthquake, Square-Enix Temporarily Shuts Down Final Fantasy MMOs |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381882,00.asp |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415093308/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C2817%2C2381882%2C00.asp |archive-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="backup">{{cite web|author=Nathan Brown |date=March 22, 2011 |title=Final Fantasy XI, XIV Back Online March 25 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/final-fantasy-xi-xiv-back-online-march-25/ |work=Edge Online |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531144138/http://www.edge-online.com/news/final-fantasy-xi-xiv-back-online-march-25/|archive-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref> During the power shortage, air conditioning and lighting was reduced, and the subscription fees for ''Final Fantasy XI'' were waived for the month of April.<ref name="backup"/>

===Decline===
In June 2009, Square Enix decided not to use PlayOnline for ''Final Fantasy XIV'' due to the marked decrease of content on the service.<ref name="turnoff"/> Instead, they migrated to a new service that still allowed cross-platform gameplay, including the use of a universal Square Enix ID that would allow players to play from wherever they left off.<ref name="turnoff">{{cite web|author=Jeremy Dunham |date=June 4, 2009 |title=E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV - What We Know |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/04/e3-2009-final-fantasy-xiv-what-we-know |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731095132/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/04/e3-2009-final-fantasy-xiv-what-we-know |archive-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref> Two years later, Square Enix merged the account management portion of the PlayOnline service into Square Enix accounts from July and culminating on August 31.<ref name="merge"/> However, PlayOnline is still required in order to actually play ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]''.<ref name="merge">{{cite web |author=Eliot Lefebvre |date=June 21, 2011 |title=Final Fantasy XI to merge PlayOnline accounts with Square-Enix accounts |url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/final-fantasy-xi-to-merge-playonline-accounts-with-square-enix-a/ |work=[[joystiq]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208190759/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/final-fantasy-xi-to-merge-playonline-accounts-with-square-enix-a/ |archive-date=February 8, 2013}}</ref> Square Enix replicated the idea of the friends list from ''Final Fantasy XI'' in ''XIV''.<ref name="fourth">{{cite web|author=Sophia Tong |date=June 3, 2009 |title=Square Enix 'considering' FFXIV Online for 'Microsoft hardware' |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/square-enix-considering-ffxiv-online-for-microsoft-hardware-6210518 |work=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002234318/http://www.gamespot.com/news/square-enix-considering-ffxiv-online-for-microsoft-hardware-6210518 |archive-date=October 2, 2012}}</ref> The termination date of service for ''Final Fantasy XI'' and PlayOnline for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 was March 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/03/19/final-fantasy-xi-end-service-playstation-2-xbox-360-march-2016/ |title=Final Fantasy XI To End Service For PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 In March 2016 |work=Siliconera |author=Sato |date=March 19, 2015 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228165144/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/03/19/final-fantasy-xi-end-service-playstation-2-xbox-360-march-2016/ |archive-date=December 28, 2015}}</ref>

==Reception==
In December 2001, Square Enix projected it would have 250,000 users by the end of the year, and 400,000 by the end of 2002. The service charged $10 per person, and thus needed 200,000 participants to break even.<ref name="even">{{cite web | author= Shahed Ahmed | date=December 3, 2001 | title=SquareSoft makes PlayOnline projections | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/squaresoft-makes-playonline-projections/1100-2829537/ | work=[[GameSpot]] | access-date=March 3, 2013}}</ref>

By January 2004, PlayOnline had over 500,000 registered users, and slightly under one million active players.<ref name="halfmill">{{cite web | author= Justin Calvert | date=January 7, 2004 | title=500,000 milestone for PlayOnline | url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/500000-milestone-for-playonline/1100-6086169/ | work=[[GameSpot]] | access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref> By September, the service had 1.2 million characters, with most players having two to three characters.<ref name="twothree">{{cite web|author=Rob Fahey |date=September 16, 2004 |title=Going Online With Square Enix |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_ffxi_pc_sept2004 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531115804/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_ffxi_pc_sept2004 |archive-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref> In May 2005, ''[[Front Mission Online]]'' became the second game to utilize the service, retailing at ¥7,140 with a monthly subscription price of ¥1,344.<ref name="mission">{{cite web|author=Anoop Gantayat |date=March 1, 2005 |title=Front Mission Online Pricing and Date |url=http://m.ign.com/articles/2005/03/01/front-mission-online-pricing-and-date |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417090857/http://m.ign.com/articles/2005/03/01/front-mission-online-pricing-and-date |archive-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> In June 2009, a [[San Francisco]] resident sued Square Enix for "deceptive advertising, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment" from ''Final Fantasy XI'', and sought a $5 million settlement.<ref name="fivemill">{{cite web|author=Kris Graft |date=June 25, 2005 |title=Square Enix Sued For $5 Million Over Final Fantasy XI |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/115146/Square_Enix_Sued_For_5_Million_Over_Final_Fantasy_XI.php#.UTFviKKi18E |work=Gamasutra |access-date=March 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113123602/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/115146/Square_Enix_Sued_For_5_Million_Over_Final_Fantasy_XI.php |archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

Composer [[Nobuo Uematsu]] said that Square's efforts to push forward with online gaming was important to the video game industry's development.<ref name="compose">{{cite web |translator=Brian Dunn |date=January 1, 2010 |title=INTERVIEW BY PLAYONLINE |url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobpo.html |work=Nobuo Uematsu.com |publisher=PlayOnline |access-date=April 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426120718/http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobpo.html |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The PlayOnline Viewer was criticized as being nothing more than a longer way to get to ''Final Fantasy XI''{{'}}s content.<ref name="viewer">{{cite web|author=Eliot Lefebvre |date=January 13, 2010 |title=The sad fate of the PlayOnline Viewer |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/01/13/the-sad-fate-of-the-playonline-viewer/ |work=Engadget |access-date=April 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426170216/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/13/the-sad-fate-of-the-playonline-viewer/ |archive-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> The game also had unmoderated [[chat rooms]] that ended up with explicit content.<ref name="viewer"/> The interface was also described as "clunky" with "strange functional restrictions".<ref name="viewer"/>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.playonline.com/ PlayOnline]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000815235413/http://www.playonline.com/ Original site (Web Archive)]

{{Square Enix}}
{{Online video game networks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Playonline}}
[[Category:Online video game services]]
[[Category:Square (video game company)]]
[[Category:Square Enix]]