Square Enix updated the Square Enix account management system yesterday to force people to select the region and country they live in upon first login. With this they added the Crysta currency. This is a virtual currency that can be bought at the rate of 100 per £1/$1/€1 and then exchanged for services and goods sold by Square Enix. This will be one of the payment methods for Final Fantasy XIV and presumably it will make it easier for some people to subscribe.


A currency like this opens up many possibilities, such as selling it in retail stores. This is similar to how the Microsoft Points system works for the XBox 360. Of course we're just speculating that Crysta may eventually be sold this way but we don't see why not. It would have the advantage of allowing people to play who do not own a credit or debit card, as well as make payments more secure for those who do not like entering their card details online.