Open-world Final Fantasy entry details 'unlimited' free trial in perfect excuse to try must-play RPG

Gamescom’s Opening Night Live is just one day away, with many of us likely hoping to catch another glimpse of Final Fantasy VII Revelation ahead of its launch next year.

We’ll be bringing you all of the major headlines here at GAMINGbible as well as plenty of on-the-ground coverage from the entirety of Gamescom.

In the meantime, we’d like to point your direction towards a rather enticing free offering coming our way next month.

Final Fantasy XI Online is set to completely overhaul its free trial very soon, offering what PCGamesN has dubbed an “unlimited” taster of the beloved open-world MMORPG.

Despite being well over two decades old, Final Fantasy XI Online is still as well-loved today as it was in the early 00s.

In fact, it’s experiencing somewhat of a resurgence - likely due to the appetite for Final Fantasy content amid the wait for the aforementioned Final Fantasy VII Revelation.

That appetite is set to be catered to with a hugely expanded free trial.

Final Fantasy XI Online is ditching its 14-day free trial limit

It’s already possible to sample Final Fantasy XI Online for free, but there’s currently a 14-day limit on the offering after which you’re locked out unless you pay for the full game.

That 14-day limit, however, is set to be removed, therefore allowing unlimited access to Final Fantasy XI Online in terms of time spent with the game.

There will, however, be restrictions placed on which areas of the open-world you can explore and what level you can reach.

The latter is being extended too though. Previously, demo players could only work towards a level cap of 50, but that’ll be extended to 75 when the new trial launches.

Square Enix

As for the breadth of the map you can explore, you’ll be limited to Final Fantasy XI Online’s base-game areas (which is still quite a lot of ground to cover), plus you’ll only be able to hold 100,000 Gil, which is the title’s in-game currency.

Trial players will not be able to trade, which includes using the bazaar and auction house, nor will they be able to send tells, shouts, or yells, become a mentor, or world transfer.

READ MORE: This free PlayStation 5 RPG taster has Final Fantasy vibes and 5-star ratings

There’s no set date on when the upgraded offering is set to come our way beyond the promise of next month, September, but Final Fantasy XI Online’s director Yoji Fujito has warned gamers to expect a two-part rollout.

The level cap increase should feature within Final Fantasy XI Online’s regular September update.

In a livestream, however, it was noted that adjustments to the server that will allow the 14-day restriction to be lifted will likely land later in the month.

"You can still only access the areas from the original version," Fujito said in the livestream, as per PCGamesN’s translation.

He later explained that he hoped lifting the 14-day limitation would “make it more accessible for people to play - or if they want to come back, they can always do so,” as previously it felt like “there's just not quite enough time in a single day".

Final Fantasy XI Online may not be the shiniest new toy on the market, especially when September promises to bring us hefty new RPGs like The Blood of Dawnwalker.

If you’re looking for a nostalgic slice of history though, Final Fantasy XI Online’s upgraded free trial should more than satisfy your cravings.