Final Fantasy XIV’s next major patch includes an update to the game’s free trial that adds the entirety of its first expansion, Heavensward. After its disastrous launch, Final Fantasy XIV was completely reworked by Square Enix with the A Realm Reborn update and has remained one of the most popular MMORPGs in the world since Heavensward.
The most recent Final Fantasy XIV expansion, Shadowbringers, is widely considered to be the best the game has ever been. For many players, it’s even in contention for the best Final Fantasy game, period. The expansion added two popular new classes, but where it really shines is its gripping story. Like all of Final Fantasy XIV’s expansions, the story of Shadowbringers is continued in its post-launch patches, which will eventually tie into the game’s next expansion, which hasn’t yet been announced by Square Enix.
Along with the story updates and various fixes in the upcoming Patch 5.3, also called Reflections in Crystal, Final Fantasy XIV’s free trial is getting a major overhaul. Currently, free trial players are only able to get to level 35, which isn’t high enough to finish even the storyline of A Realm Reborn. Once the new patch hits, though, players can get all the way to level 60 and will have access to the entire Heavensward expansion. Before Shadowbringers, Heavensward’s story was considered the best in the game, and the expansion also represents a big step up in quest and dungeon design. It also adds three new jobs and an additional character race. Players who already own the Starter Edition will also get Heavensward for free.
New Final Fantasy XIV players coming in on the heels of the free trial update will have another thing to look forward to as well. Getting through A Realm Reborn right now can be a pain, as it’s stuffed with boring quests that don’t do much to advance the plot. While long-time players contend that it’s absolutely worth it to get to the good stuff, it’s enough to turn many first timers off. Reflections in Crystal is changing all that, streamlining A Realm Reborn’s quests so players can see what makes Final Fantasy XIV so great much sooner.
After the update, Final Fantasy XIV’s once lackluster free trial may be the best deal in MMORPGs. A Realm Reborn and Heavensward represent easily 100 hours of the best MMO content around, and the streamlined early game experience is enough to make veteran Final Fantasy XIV players wish they were just starting the game for the first time.
Final Fantasy XIV is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Source: Final Fantasy XIV/Twitter