Expanded Final Fantasy 14 trial means there's never been a better time to join

04 August 2023 , 06:00

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The Stormblood expansion is being included in the Final Fantasy 14 free trial version later this year (Image: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 14's free trial was already a great deal, but it's being made even better with the inclusion of the Stormblood expansion in October's Growing Light update.

The Las Vegas Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival 2023 took place last month (with another set for London in October), and as fans have come to expect from these events, Square Enix had some good news for those in attendance. At long last, a Final Fantasy 14 Xbox Series X|S version has been confirmed, arriving next spring (with an open beta set this October), and a massive expansion called Dawntrail was unveiled that'll be launching in summer 2024.

But the best news for those who have yet to try out the game is news that the already generous Final Fantasy 14 free trial is about to become an even better deal that it already is.

Starting with patch 6.5 (titled Growing Light) which is set to release this October alongside the Xbox beta, the Final Fantasy 14 free trial – which gives players access to the base game and the award-winning Heavensward expansion – will also throw in the second expansion Stormblood.

There are no restrictions on playtime during the Final Fantasy 14 free trial but the level cap is currently 60 across each of the 14 available jobs. You can play with up to eight characters as well (with a one per server stipulation) so it'll be a long time before you run out of stuff to do.

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The Stormblood expansion adds three new jobs – the Red Mage, Samurai, and Blue Mage. It also includes a number of new raids, including one set in the Ivalice universe of Final Fantasy 12 and the incredible Final Fantasy Tactics series.

A new Ivalice

Final Fantasy 14 is incredibily popular, and even as someone who doesn't really care for MMOs I found myself engrossed by the world and characters from my time playing it. Plus it's got all of your favourite Final Fantasy tropes: crystals mentioned every two seconds, weird looking creatures, great music – the gang's all here.

Speaking to friends who have put thousands of hours into the game, things only get better with the expansions. Sure, Stormblood doesn't get added to the free trial until October, but with the sheer amount of content currently available in the Final Fantasy 14 free trial, now is a great time to jump in. And if you go miraculously manage to hit the level 60 cap, when October rolls around, you'll have even more free content to dig into with the new level cap.

Scott McCrae