Will the FF14 Free Trial Be Expanded? The Answer & Everything You Need to Know
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Yes, the FF14 Free Trial is currently the most expansive it has ever been, and further expansions in the immediate future seem unlikely. The free trial now includes the entirety of A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay. While future expansions to the free trial are always a possibility, Square Enix has not announced any current plans to extend it beyond Stormblood.
The Current State of the FF14 Free Trial
The Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial is one of the most generous in the MMORPG market, allowing players to experience a significant portion of the game without any time restrictions. You can play as long as you like, leveling multiple classes and engaging with a wide variety of content within the included expansions. This makes it an incredibly attractive option for newcomers unsure about committing to a subscription.
What’s Included?
The free trial encompasses the following:
- A Realm Reborn (2.0-2.55): The original story and its subsequent patches, including iconic dungeons like the Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak and the Copperbell Mines.
- Heavensward (3.0-3.56): The first expansion, taking players to the snowy lands of Ishgard and introducing the Au Ra race. This includes trials such as Ravana and Bismark.
- Stormblood (4.0-4.56): The second expansion, featuring liberation attempts in Ala Mhigo and Doma, introducing swimming and diving mechanics. Players will experience trials such as Susano and Lakshmi.
Restrictions
While incredibly generous, the free trial does come with certain restrictions designed to prevent abuse and maintain the in-game economy. These include:
- Gil Limit: A maximum of 300,000 gil (the in-game currency).
- Trading and Market Board Restrictions: Free trial players cannot trade with other players or use the Market Board to buy or sell items.
- Retainer Restrictions: Free trial players cannot hire retainers (storage and selling assistants).
- Party Formation Restrictions: Free trial players cannot create parties or use the Party Finder. They can join parties formed by paying players.
- Shout, Yell, and Tell Chat Restrictions: Free trial players cannot use the Shout, Yell, or Tell chat channels. They can use Say and Party chat.
- FC Restriction: Free trial players cannot join a Free Company (guild).
- Login Priority: Paying subscribers have priority login during times of high server congestion.
Why Isn’t the Free Trial Expanding?
While many players hope to see future expansions added to the free trial, several factors likely contribute to Square Enix’s current stance.
- Content Saturation: The current free trial offers an immense amount of content. Adding more expansions might overwhelm new players and deter them from eventually purchasing the game.
- Subscription Incentive: Square Enix needs to maintain a balance between attracting new players and incentivizing subscriptions. A perpetually expanding free trial could negatively impact subscription numbers.
- Server Load and Maintenance: Maintaining servers and providing support for all players, including free trial users, incurs significant costs. Expanding the free trial too rapidly could strain resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the FF14 Free Trial
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding the FF14 Free Trial, aimed at providing comprehensive information for potential and current players:
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What happens when I reach level 70 on the free trial?
You can continue to play the content available within A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood. You can level all available classes to 70, craft items, complete side quests, and participate in duties and trials within those expansions. You simply won’t have access to the content, classes, or zones introduced in Shadowbringers, Endwalker or Dawntrail.
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Can I play the free trial on PlayStation?
Yes! The FF14 Free Trial is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The restrictions are identical across all platforms.
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Is there a time limit on the free trial?
No, there is no time limit. You can play indefinitely as long as you adhere to the restrictions.
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Can I transfer my free trial character to a paid account?
Yes! All progress made on the free trial is retained. Once you purchase the Starter Edition or the Complete Edition, you can immediately continue playing with your existing character.
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What’s the difference between the Starter Edition and the Complete Edition?
The Starter Edition includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood, and comes with 30 days of subscription time. The Complete Edition includes all available expansions up to the latest release (currently Endwalker), and also comes with 30 days of subscription time. Purchasing the Complete Edition effectively unlocks the entire game.
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If I buy the Starter Edition, do I have to subscribe immediately?
No. You can play through A Realm Reborn, Heavensward and Stormblood using your included 30 days of game time whenever you like.
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I previously played FF14 but my account is inactive. Can I use the free trial?
No. The free trial is only available to new accounts that have never been registered with a product key.
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Can I purchase items from the Mog Station (the online store) on the free trial?
Yes, you can purchase items from the Mog Station. However, be aware of the gil limit; you can’t sell these items on the Market Board to circumvent the gil limit.
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How do I upgrade from the free trial to a paid account?
You need to purchase either the Starter Edition or the Complete Edition from the Square Enix Store or the relevant platform’s store (PlayStation Store, Steam). After purchasing, you will receive a registration code which needs to be entered into your Mog Station account.
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Can I use a VPN while playing the free trial?
While not explicitly prohibited, using a VPN may violate the Terms of Service. It’s generally recommended to play without one unless absolutely necessary.
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What classes and jobs are available in the free trial?
All classes and jobs available up to and including Stormblood are playable. This includes popular choices like Paladin, Warrior, White Mage, Black Mage, Dragoon, Ninja, and Machinist.
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Can I participate in seasonal events on the free trial?
Yes, as long as the seasonal event occurs within the content available in A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, or Stormblood, you can participate.
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What happens if I accidentally exceed the gil limit on the free trial?
Any gil earned beyond the 300,000 limit will simply disappear. Be mindful of your spending and earnings to avoid this.
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Can I report players on the free trial?
Yes, you can report players who violate the Terms of Service using the in-game reporting system.
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Will Square Enix ever expand the free trial to include Shadowbringers or Endwalker?
While anything is possible, there are no current announcements or indications that Square Enix plans to expand the free trial beyond Stormblood. It is best to assume that Stormblood is the limit for the foreseeable future.
Final Thoughts
The FF14 Free Trial offers an exceptional opportunity to experience a large portion of this critically acclaimed MMORPG. While further expansions are not currently planned, the sheer amount of content available makes it an invaluable way for new players to dive into the world of Eorzea without any financial commitment. Enjoy your journey, and perhaps you’ll become a Warrior of Light alongside the countless others who have been captivated by Final Fantasy XIV.