Many new players will undoubtedly be interested in joining Square Enix’s venerable massively multiplayer online role-playing game after the release of Dawntrail, the most recent update for Final Fantasy XIV. This inquisitiveness, though, could get perplexing when choosing between the incredibly generous, free Starter Edition and the $20 premium version. There are a number of differences between the FFXIV Starter Edition and Free Trial. Despite being the complete version of the game with no limitations, the Starter Edition has a significant downside: after 30 days, it requires a membership in order to continue playing. Notably, it doesn’t in the Free Trial.
For $19.99, Final Fantasy XIV: Starter Edition includes the base game, 2013’s A Realm Reborn, and the first two expansions, 2015’s Heavensward and 2017’s Stormblood. This version lets you level your character up to level 70. That might seem like a no-brainer, but there is a major caveat: the Starter Edition only allows 30 days of play time. Once that time is up, you will need to purchase a new time card or subscribe to continue playing through everything this version offers.
The Free Trial includes all the same content as the Starter Edition and does not require a subscription. Given that each expansion will take most people roughly 40 hours to play through, a month will hardly be enough time for the majority of players to work through everything this version has to offer. With subscriptions starting at $12.99 per month, you may end up spending much more than you anticipated when purchasing the Starter Edition. Simply put, while $19.99 may seem like a deal for over a hundred hours of content, you’re restricted to how much time you can invest in the game within a month.
As a way more affordable alternative, you should consider jumping into the Free Trial. This is simple on Steam: select the “Download Final Fantasy XIV Online Free Trial” option from the Steam page. The Xbox version is similarly straightforward: select Free+ and add the Free Trial to your account. Things are a little trickier on PlayStation. On a PS4 or PS5, navigate to the product page and then select the ellipsis which will bring up the download option for the Free Trial.
The Free Trial includes all the same content as the Starter Edition and does not require a subscription. So, whether it takes you one month or one year, you won’t have to spend anything until you complete the 2017 Stormblood expansion or hit the level cap of 70. Given the substantial content provided, you stand to save quite a bit of money going this route, all to play through the same game. Once you purchase the Starter Edition, your account is locked out of the free trial and into a subscription.
If you’re on Xbox, you have an additional cost-saving benefit to choosing the free trial. Game Pass Core, which Xbox requires to play online, is needed for the paid version of Final Fantasy XIV. However, those on the Free Trial bypass the Game Pass requirement and do not need any service or subscription. Since Game Pass Core starts at a monthly rate of $9.99, Free Trial users on Xbox are potentially saving almost $25 per month.
The Free Trial does have some limitations, however. These mostly concern social aspects of the game. Free Trial players cannot join Free Companies, FFXIV’s versions of guilds. They also cannot create a party, but can join one if they are sent an invite from a player who is on a paid version. The Free Trial also restricts trading with other players as well as sending in-game letters or participating in PVP or Ultimate Raids. A full list of restrictions can be found on Square Enix’s site, but these are the ones of most concern.
You might be wondering: Who should buy the Starter Edition of the game? Well, if you have completed everything the Free Trial has to offer and are ready to move on to the Shadow bringers expansion, you will need a paid version of the game (i.e., the Starter Edition) and the new Dawn trail expansion. Every FFXIV expansion includes all the previous releases. With Shadowbringers and End walker now removed from digital storefronts, purchasing Dawn trail is the correct (and only) way to get caught up on the game.
With good reason, Final Fantasy XIV is among the most well-liked massively multiplayer online games ever. There’s a ton of content to get lost in, including an engaging tale, satisfying character development, and difficult dungeons. As long as you refrain from buying the Starter Edition, the core of this experience is free. Before they even download the game, new users must be informed of this. An account is permanently barred from the free trial once it is connected to a premium edition, such as the Starter Edition.
FFXIV players will have plenty of months where they will be paying to fuel their new and exciting hobby. So the longer those payments can be delayed, the better.
If you like the article please follow on THE UBJ.