The short answer is: we don‘t know for sure yet. Square Enix has not officially confirmed if or when Stormblood will be added to Final Fantasy XIV‘s generous free trial. However, looking at patterns from past expansions and Square‘s goals with the free trial, there are good reasons to believe Stormblood will eventually make its way into the free lineup.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll cover everything we know so far about the potential for a Stormblood free trial as well as tips to maximize your enjoyment of FFXIV in the meantime.
A Look Back: Past Expansions and the Free Trial
To predict if Stormblood will go free to play, it helps to understand how FFXIV‘s free trial has evolved over time:
- Launch (2013) – Only 14 days of playtime
- March 2017 – Expanded to unlimited playtime up to level 35
- May 2019 – Level cap increased to 60, including all of Heavensward
- September 2022 – Removed 14-day subscription timer
As you can see, Square Enix has consistently expanded the limits on the starter edition over time. This follows a strategy of utilizing a generous, unlimited free trial to attract and retain new players.
Most notably, Heavensward was added in May 2019 – approximately 2 years after its initial launch. This sets a precedent that aligns well with predictions for Stormblood‘s inclusion in 2023.
The Case for "Yes" – Why Stormblood Will Likely Go Free
There are a few key reasons why I believe Square Enix will add Stormblood to the free trial eventually:
Stormblood is the Next Logical Step
Expanding the trial to include all content up to the previous expansion has worked well so far. With Heavensward free, it follows that Stormblood would be next.
The Strategy Aligns
Square Enix has succeeded by making the free trial more generous over time. Stormblood would represent another huge chunk of free content for players.
The Timing is Right
If Stormblood follows Heavensward‘s timeline, 2023 would be the natural year for it to go free to play.
It Attracts New Players
The promise of such a massive amount of free content before paying is attractive to new players on the fence about the game.
It Syncs with Endwalker Hype
Releasing Stormblood for free while excitement is high for the newly released Endwalker expansion could build momentum.
Words of Caution – Potential Reasons for Delay
However, it‘s not guaranteed Stormblood will join the free trial right away. Here are some reasons Square Enix may delay the expansion‘s inclusion:
- They may want to drive sales of Stormblood for a longer period after launch
- Adding content takes development resources away from new content
- They may prefer to space out free expansions to sustain interest
- Unforeseen technical hurdles with adding the content
My instinct is these risks likely won‘t prevent Stormblood‘s addition long-term, but may push the timeline back a bit into 2024 or beyond.
What Does Stormblood Include?
For FFXIV fans excited at the prospect of Stormblood going free to play, let‘s look at some of the major features the expansion includes:
- New Jobs – Samurai and Red Mage give you two fresh styles of DPS to master
- Increased Level Cap – Take your character to Level 70 to become even more powerful
- New Areas – Explore Gyr Abania, Kugane, and other exotic lands
- Main Scenario – 30+ hours of new story quests and cutscenes
- New Dungeons – Face exciting new challenges like The Burn and The Drowned City
- New Trials & Raids – Test your skills against titanic foes like Shinryu
- New Gameplay Systems – Take on the Forbidden Land of Eureka, restore Doma Castle, and more
- Expanded PvP – Prove your prowess in iconic Final Fantasy battle arenas
- Treasure Hunting – Seek out Lockboxes and solve riddles to uncover hidden treasures
- New Mounts & Minions – Acquire new mounts like the Magitek Avenger or Wind-up Bartz minion
As you can see, Stormblood represents a massive injection of new content across all aspects of FFXIV, giving both new and current players alike hundreds of hours of gameplay.
Maximize Your Free Trial Experience Now
While waiting patiently for potential Stormblood access, let‘s look at some tips to enjoy the currently available free trial content to its fullest:
- Take It Slow – With no time limit, don‘t feel rushed. Take time to smell the roses and soak in the lore.
- Try Everything – Experiment with different classes and jobs to see what suits you best.
- Join an FC – Find a welcoming, active free company to enhance your experience.
- See All ARR & Heavensward – Don‘t leave any stone unturned – do all the raids, trials, side quests, jobs, etc available.
- Build Connections – Make friends and connections that will last into the full game.
- Learn Systems – Master mechanics like glamour, mounts, crafting that will be useful later.
- Watch Cutscenes – The story is FFXIV‘s heart and soul, enjoy it to the fullest.
The unlimited free trial gives you the gift of time – time to fully appreciate everything A Realm Reborn and Heavensward have to offer. Take it and have a blast!
The Waiting Game
While concrete details have yet to emerge, the evidence strongly suggests Stormblood will eventually join Heavensward as part of FFXIV‘s free trial. This would give new players an unprecedented volume of world-class MMORPG content to experience completely free.
As someone already loving the free trial, I know I‘m eagerly awaiting official word from Square Enix that Stormblood has gone free to play. However, even if we must be patient, the realm of Eorzea provides plenty of adventure to occupy us in the meantime. Here‘s to more great FFXIV memories – both in the present and future!
