THE BUZZ: Square-Enix announced another complete overhaul is coming to Final Fantasy XIV when version 2.0 releases, and next month the game will return of a subscription based payment model.

In an open letter to fans, Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida and Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada have revealed that the team will be completely rebuilding the game. ”In the ten months since the Final Fantasy XIV team’s restructuring, we have put forth the utmost effort into not only improving the game’s existing features, but also creating a concrete plan to outline the game’s new direction,” said Wada.

Version 2.0 will signal an end of the free-to-play period that fans of the game have been enjoying during the rebuilding phase. ”We will need to bring the unbilled period to a close between late November and early December 2011, and introduce our subscription-based billing system,” Wada said. ”I appreciate that this decision will not be popular, but it is a necessary step in building upon the foundation our fans and development team have made together and to realise the full potential of Final Fantasy XIV.”

It was also revealed that the PlayStation 3 version of the game will be released between October and December of 2012. When 2.0 is released there will be a free-to-play period for fans and a new PC client to download. ”As part of this process, there will be a period required for switching over to a new client and new servers, after which there will be a large transfer of data when service is brought back online. After the new client is completed, new software for the PC version will be distributed online, and can be acquired free of charge. Character data and progress for players already playing the PC version will also be preserved, allowing those players to continue using their in-game avatars”.

EGM’s TAKE: It’s been a  long road but it seems that Square are finally starting to win some fans back with the changes that are being made.

Are you happy with the changes made so far? Leave your thoughts below.