Final Fantasy XI Free Trial Loses Its Time Limit

Final Fantasy XI free trial is now far more generous

Square Enix has removed the 14-day time limit from Final Fantasy XI’s free trial, making its long-running MMORPG easier to explore without committing to a monthly subscription. The change applies to the game’s first free-trial account and gives players unlimited time to experience Vana’diel.

The free trial’s level ceiling has also increased from 50 to 75. Players who previously created a trial account and used up their allotted time can return now that the restriction has been removed.

What the Final Fantasy XI trial includes

The trial offers access to the original release areas and lets eligible jobs reach level 75. It remains a substantial introduction to an MMO that is more than two decades old, although expansion content is not included.

Square Enix has published the current details on the PlayOnline website. The company describes the update as an opportunity to take time with character progression, explore the world and adventure with friends.

Remaining Final Fantasy XI free trial restrictions

The time limit has gone, but the trial still has several account, communication and progression restrictions. The complete rules are available in Square Enix’s full list of restrictions.

• Characters: A free-trial account can have a maximum of three characters at once.
• Level 75 cap: Available jobs can be levelled to 75, but jobs introduced through expansion packs cannot be played in the trial.
• Areas: Trial players are limited to locations from the original release.
• Auction house: Players cannot list items, bid on auctions or view auction listings.
• Gil: Characters can hold no more than 100,000 gil.
• Trading and bazaars: Trial players cannot trade with other players or use the bazaar system to buy and sell items.
• Parties: Trial players cannot invite others to a party, although they can join when another player sends an invitation.
• Mog House Delivery Box: This feature is unavailable.
• Chat: The /tell, /shout and /yell channels cannot be used. Trial players can chat in parties and reply to incoming /tell messages.
• World Transfer Service: Free-trial accounts cannot use it.
• Mentor status: Trial characters cannot become mentors.
• Unity Concord: Trial characters cannot participate.

Is the free trial worth trying?

The restrictions are broadly comparable to those found in other free MMO trials, but the lack of expansion access is especially significant here. Even so, the original game contains plenty to explore, and the higher level cap gives new players considerably more room to progress.

Party formation can be awkward because trial players cannot send invitations themselves. Playing alongside someone with a paid account provides a practical workaround. That said, Final Fantasy XI can be surprisingly accommodating for solo players, so joining a group is not essential for every activity.

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