Getting started in an MMORPG is a daunting task, not only because of the sheer amount of content that stands before you but also because it can be a huge monetary commitment. In college I remember recommending a co-worker get into World of Warcraft because he was curious, having never experienced the game. The only problem is that even by that point the long-running series was four expansions in, all required in order to play. Throw in a monthly subscription and that’s just… a lot. Square Enix is doing their best to mitigate this problem when it comes to Final Fantasy XIV, offering a free starter edition on PSN through May 26 that not only provides the base version of the game, but also 30 days of play for free. Not a bad deal if you’re even a little MMO-curious.
While the verbiage on the PSN Store entry for the Starter Edition is light on details, a press release from Square Enix states the contents of this gratis package. For the low, low price of zero dollars you’ll get Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (the base version of the game) and thirty days of playtime, with the former being yours to keep forever. While this still leaves a metric ton of expansions (okay, okay three: Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers) to buy, there’s more than enough content to burn through before getting to the recent stuff. Often times the struggle with MMOs is getting people to set their foot in the door, as once that happens they more than likely buy-in. The free playtime is a nice touch and makes the whole thing feel more substantial than just a weeklong trial.
Don’t wait around too long, however, as the Starter Edition will only be available to redeem through May 26 but is yours forever if downloaded before then. So get going, find some Chocobos, and do that rad Nier Automata raid.
