Square Enix has expanded the Final Fantasy XIV free trial in a significant way, with Shadowbringers content now included in the no-cost package, according to Siliconera. That's a massive chunk of game being handed to new players for free.
The Shadowbringers expansion brought some of the most beloved content in FFXIV's history, and trial players can now access its two new playable races: the rabbit-eared Viera and the lion-like Hrothgar. Both have been fan favorites since launch, so new players no longer have to commit to a purchase just to play as them.
On the job side, the trial now unlocks both Dancer and Gunbreaker. Dancer is a ranged DPS role built around chaining procs and buffing your party, while Gunbreaker is a tank job that plays more aggressively than most, leaning into a fast combo-heavy rotation. Having both available to trial players gives a much better sense of FFXIV's job variety before spending any money.
Why this matters
The FFXIV free trial is already one of the most generous in the MMO space, previously covering the base game and the Heavensward expansion with no time limit and a level 60 cap. Adding Shadowbringers pushes that ceiling to level 70 and throws in Stormblood content in between, giving newcomers hundreds of hours of story content at zero cost.
This is a smart move by Square Enix. The trial has historically been one of the game's best onboarding tools, letting players experience a massive amount of content before asking for their wallet. Folding in Shadowbringers - widely considered one of the best expansion storylines in any MMO - only strengthens that pitch to anyone still sitting on the fence about jumping in.
If you've been curious about FFXIV but haven't pulled the trigger, the free trial is now an even harder offer to pass up. There's no better time to find out what the Warrior of Light is all about.
