Remaining Fantasy 14 has a ridiculously beneficiant free trial—one which, as of subsequent month, goes to incorporate two expansions that embody lots of of hours of playtime. It is nonetheless a subscription-based MMO at its coronary heart although, one thing which director and producer Naoki Yoshida does not intend on altering anytime quickly.
“I imagine the free trial will proceed to be expanded, however we now have no plans of constructing the consumer itself free in the mean time,” Yoshida informed Eurogamer. “Since an enormous quantity of money and time has been invested within the enlargement packages, the income from gross sales of the enlargement bundle itself remains to be essential as a way to proceed to make expansions on this scale. We want to continuously intention for one of the best on the enterprise aspect as nicely to proceed making loads of content material to be loved.”
It is a cheap stance to take, and I personally could not see a close to future the place Remaining Fantasy 14 was completely free-to-play. The sport has been doing completely advantageous with its present mannequin, in spite of everything—lest we overlook that the Endwalker enlargement was so standard Sq. Enix needed to droop the free trial and pull the sport from sale altogether for six weeks. The free trial nonetheless has loads of restrictions which might be irritating sufficient for devoted gamers to cough up cash for a month-to-month subscription, too.
It has been 10 years since Remaining Fantasy 14 was rereleased as A Realm Reborn, a reworked expertise after its authentic 2010 enterprise was lambasted by critics and followers alike. Subsequent yr will see the sport’s fifth enlargement, Dawntrail, launched alongside its first graphics overhaul to offer issues a wee spruce up.
“New grand tales, new jobs, new settings for the journey; these items are vital,” Yoshida stated. “However to improve the system and make it doable to do issues that have been beforehand unattainable are additionally vital. I imagine the primary graphics replace may be seen as a part of this class.”
