Hey friend! I know you‘re interested in checking out Final Fantasy 14 (FF14), one of the most popular MMORPGs out there right now. But before you dive in, you probably want to know – is the free trial available on Steam, or do you have to go directly through Square Enix?
Well, I‘ve got good news for you! The answer is both. You can access the full FF14 free trial through either Steam or the Square Enix site. I‘ll walk you through how it works for both so you can get started playing today.
Overview of the Epic FF14 Free Trial
But first, let‘s talk about what makes the FF14 free trial so epic. For a lot of MMORPGs, you only get a small sliver of the game before you have to pay. FF14 is very different – the trial gives you hundreds of hours of content to play through with no time limits.
Here‘s an overview of what you can experience:
- The entire base game A Realm Reborn with over 100 hours of story quests
- The full Heavensward expansion up to level 60
- Play as all jobs/classes like Warrior, Dragoon, White Mage to level 60
- Hundreds of side quests, dungeons, raids, and treasures to find
- Character customization – 8 unique races, endless glamour options
- Build your own Chocobo companion and train it
- Fight iconic FF bosses like Ifrit and Garuda
- Triple Triad card game and the Golden Saucer casino
- A deep crafting and gathering system
- Player housing, airships, mounts – tons of activities!
The only real limitations are on social/economic elements like player trading. But you have full access to all the core game content and storylines up to level 60 with no rush. It‘s an amazing deal!
And once you reach level 60 and complete over 400 hours of playtime, you can seamlessly transition to the full game by buying the Starter or Complete Editions. Your character, their level, gear, and progress stay intact.
Alright, now that you know just how awesome the free trial is, let‘s get into the details of how to access it on Steam and Square Enix!
Accessing the Free Trial on Steam
If you‘re a regular Steam user, you‘ll be happy to know the free trial is fully integrated. Here‘s the quick process:
- Open up the Steam client and go to the Store tab.
- Search for "Final Fantasy XIV Online Free Trial".
- Click install and let it download the trial version (around 21GB).
- Once installed, launch the game through your Steam library.
- When prompted, link your Square Enix account or create a new one.
- Log in with your Square Enix credentials and play!
Once you‘ve done this initial setup, you can launch and play directly from the Steam client without going to the Square Enix website. Just hit play from your library and log into your linked account. It‘s that simple!
The benefits of using Steam:
- Easier install and launch process
- Automatic updates
- Integrated friends/chat
- Subscription payment via Steam wallet
The one limitation is you‘ll only be able to access the Steam version in the future. But for most players, this convenience is well worth it!
Starting the Free Trial Directly from Square Enix
If you prefer not to use Steam, you can go directly through the Square Enix site:
- Go to the Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial homepage.
- Click "Start your free trial" and choose your platform – PC or Mac.
- Download the installer and follow the instructions.
- Create a Square Enix account if you don‘t already have one.
- Log in to download the full game client (~21GB).
- Once installed, open the launcher and log in to play!
This version won‘t integrate with Steam, but gives you direct access through the Square Enix launcher. You‘ll log in here each time to play.
The benefits of the standalone version:
- Separate from other game libraries
- Works for players who don‘t use Steam
- Account management through Square Enix
Either way you choose, you get the full free trial! Just be sure to stick with the same platform if you eventually buy the full game, as the licenses are not interchangeable.
Playing the Trial on PlayStation
Great news – FF14 is also available on PlayStation! Everything about the trial is the same, it just requires a quick setup:
- Go to the PlayStation Store and find "FF14 Free Trial".
- Download and install the trial (around 21GB).
- Create or link your Square Enix account.
- Complete character creation and jump in!
Cross-play is fully supported between PC and PlayStation as well using the same Square Enix account. You can play on both platforms and access the same characters. Pretty cool!
However you decide to play, you get hundreds of hours of amazing MMORPG content absolutely free. That leads to our next topic…
The Free Trial Has No Time Limits
This is what really sets FF14‘s free trial apart – there are zero time restrictions. Most MMOs only give you 7-14 days to play free, then cut you off. Square Enix knows it has an incredibly expansive world, and wants to give new players a REAL chance to experience it.
Rather than time, your progress is limited to level 60 with full access through Heavensward expansion. With all the story quests, side content, classes to try, and multiplayer unlocking at level 15, you‘re looking at least 200 hours before hitting that cap.
And again, everything carries over if you choose to continue your adventure. No rushed time pressure, just the best parts of FF14 available for as long as you want!
Now let‘s talk about what you can‘t access during the free trial…
Free Trial Social and Market Restrictions
Since FF14 is giving away so much content for free, they have put some necessary limits on multiplayer activities:
- No social groups – can‘t make parties, linkshells, or Free Companies
- No player-to-player trades or marketboard buying/selling
- 300,000 gil cap on currency earned
- Restricted chat – no tells, yells, or shouts
However, you can still use the Duty Finder to queue into dungeons and boss fights with random players. This unlocks at level 15.
So while the social aspects are limited, you can experience all the core game content like questing, cutscenes, combat, and group challenges up to level 60 with zero rush.
For new players, I don‘t think these restrictions interfere much – you‘ll be engrossed in the main story for dozens of hours before hitting them. And again, everything opens up with a full license.
Transitioning to the Full Game When You‘re Ready
After falling in love with the worlds, characters, and gameplay of FF14, you‘ll probably be excited to lift those social limits and continue your adventure to level 90!
When you‘re ready, here‘s the process to gain full access:
On Steam:
- Purchase Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition or Complete Edition
- Activate your registration codes on the MogStation
- Begin subscription payments through Steam wallet
Direct from Square Enix:
- Buy a game edition on MogStation or other retailer
- Register your platform license and expansion codes
- Input subscription payment details
Once you do this, your account will instantly upgrade with all limits removed. You keep your character, their level and progress, gear, everything!
I highly recommend buying the Complete Edition so you get all current expansions – Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker. More adventures await in those zones!
And one question new players often have…
Is There a Time Limit if I Buy the Full Game?
Nope, absolutely not! Once you register the full game and begin your subscription, you‘ll have unlimited access with no content locks or timed trials.
You can even take breaks from playing while keeping your account active. Whether it‘s a few weeks or a few months, your character progress will be waiting when you return.
The subscription itself also has flexible options:
- Month-to-month – $12.99/month
- Every 3 months – $13.99/month
- Every 6 months – $12.99/month
Paying for longer subscription blocks provides discounts. But you can go month-to-month or disable auto-renew at any time through MogStation.
Which Edition Should I Buy?
This is always a common question for new players finishing the free trial. Let‘s compare what‘s included with each edition:
Starter Edition:
- Base game (A Realm Reborn)
- Heavensward expansion
Complete Edition:
- Base game (A Realm Reborn)
- Heavensward expansion
- Stormblood expansion
- Shadowbringers expansion
- Endwalker expansion
My recommendation is to buy the Complete Edition. This gives you access to all current content up to level 90 and beyond. The Starter Edition only includes up to level 60 content you already experienced in the trial.
While the Complete Edition is more expensive upfront, you won‘t have to keep buying each new expansion that comes out. You‘ll instantly have everything available. Very worth it!
Some key stats on FF14 players and subscriptions:
- Over 24 million players globally
- At least 1 million active subscribers
- Most popular in Japan with around 770k subs
- Close to 500k active subs in North America/Europe
As you can see, the game has massive reach with an active community!
Alright, let‘s recap everything we covered…
In Summary: How to Start Playing FF14 Free Today
- The unlimited free trial is available directly on Steam or the Square Enix site
- Includes the entirety of A Realm Reborn and Heavensward expansion
- Hundreds of hours of story, side quests, jobs, dungeons, multiplayer
- No time limits – play as long as you want up to level 60
- Minimal social/economic restrictions
- Fully transfer your character to full game
- Buy Complete Edition to experience all expansions
- Subscription gives you unlimited access with no locks
Whew, that was a lot of information! But I hope this detailed guide gives you clarity and helps you start your journey in the magical worlds of FF14.
With the incredible free trial, you have nothing to lose by giving it a shot. And with so many active players, you‘ll find lots of helpful friends along the way.
Let me know if any other questions come up. I‘m excited for you to experience this amazing game and am happy to help however I can. Now grab your chocobo and let‘s adventure together in Eorzea!
