Final Fantasy 14 Free Trial Now Includes Shadowbringers

Key Takeaways

• The free trial now extends through Shadowbringers, widely considered FF14's best expansion
• Players get access to all races including Viera and Hrothgar without paying
• Restrictions remain on gil caps, chat features, and endgame Ultimate raids

Square Enix just made its already absurd free trial even more absurd. With Patch 7.5 rolling out today, Final Fantasy 14's free trial now includes Shadowbringers. That's the expansion most players and critics consider the best in the entire game.

The announcement came during the North American Fan Festival keynote over the weekend. Many players missed it amid the flood of other news. But it's live now.

What You Get for Free

The free trial progression has been expanding steadily. It started with content up to level 60, including the Heavensward expansion. In 2023, Square Enix added Stormblood. Now Shadowbringers joins the lineup, bringing the free content to roughly 500 hours of gameplay.

Shadowbringers earned its reputation through strong storytelling and encounter design. It also introduced the Viera race (the bunny-eared characters). With Shadowbringers in the free trial, players now have access to every playable race in Final Fantasy 14. That includes Viera and Hrothgar, even though those races were introduced in later expansions. You only need Shadowbringers to unlock them.

Free trial players can also now access the Nier: Automata-themed alliance raids. These crossover raids brought 2B's iconic look into the game. Expect to see a lot more players running around in those outfits.

What's Still Locked

The free trial remains generous but not unlimited. Square Enix keeps several restrictions in place to encourage eventual subscriptions.

• Gil cap of 300,000 (the in-game currency)
• No access to /shout, /yell, and /tell chat commands
• No market board or retainers (storage/selling NPCs)
• Cannot join a Free Company (FF14's guild system)
• No access to Party Finder
• No PvP content

Hardcore raiders also hit a wall. The Ultimate difficulty raids remain subscription-only. That includes The Unending Coil of Bahamut, Weapon's Refrain, and The Epic of Alexander. These are the most punishing endgame encounters, designed for coordinated groups willing to wipe for weeks.

The Catch: Time Investment

Here's the honest downside. Final Fantasy 14's main story quest is mandatory for progression. You can't skip to Shadowbringers. You have to play through the base game, Heavensward, and Stormblood first. That's easily 200+ hours before you even reach the content most players rave about.

The early game, particularly the original A Realm Reborn content, has a reputation for being slow. Square Enix trimmed it in previous patches, but it still requires patience. Players who bounce off the early hours never experience what makes Shadowbringers special.

How This Compares to Other MMOs

Most MMOs offer free trials measured in days or weeks. World of Warcraft's free option caps at level 20, which takes maybe 10 hours. Guild Wars 2 is buy-to-play with no subscription, but the base game alone is far less content than what FF14 now offers for free.

Final Fantasy 14's approach is unusual. The game treats its story as the primary draw, not endgame raids or PvP. Letting players experience three full expansions before asking for money makes sense when the story is your strongest selling point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Final Fantasy 14 free trial?

There's no time limit. You can play indefinitely through the base game, Heavensward, Stormblood, and now Shadowbringers. Restrictions apply to social features and in-game economy, but content access has no expiration.

Can I access all races in the FF14 free trial?

Yes. With Shadowbringers now included, free trial players can unlock every race in the game, including Viera and Hrothgar.

What's the level cap for the FF14 free trial?

The free trial now covers content through Shadowbringers, which goes up to level 80.

Can free trial players do raids in Final Fantasy 14?

Most raids are accessible. However, the Ultimate difficulty raids (Unending Coil of Bahamut, Weapon's Refrain, Epic of Alexander) require a subscription.

Is the FF14 free trial worth it in 2024?

If you have patience for a slow-burning story that picks up significantly in later expansions, yes. You're looking at roughly 500 hours of content. The early game can drag, but Shadowbringers is consistently praised as one of the best JRPG stories in recent years.

Source: PCGamer latest