FINAL FANTASY XIV, Square Enix’s massively multiplayer online RPG, will require a Game Pass subscription to play on Xbox Series X|S consoles, according to a blog post that the company shared today regarding the game’s upcoming open beta test. The open beta test for the Xbox version of FFXIV will begin later this month, on February 21.
Square Enix on the new requirement:
The Free Trial version, including the open beta test, will not require an Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) plan to play. However, the full Xbox Series X|S version will require an Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) plan to play.
FFXIV open beta test time/date:
- Wednesday, 21 February 2024
- 8:00 (GMT) / 19:00 (AEDT)
FFXIV open beta details:
- Contains the same content, features, and limitations as the Free Trial version, contains the same content, features, and limitations as the Free Trial version
- Players who already have the Free Trial version for a different platform or a FINAL FANTASY XIV license registered to their Square Enix account will be unable to participate in the open beta test
- Square Enix plans to launch the Xbox Series X|S version immediately following the conclusion of the open beta test
Privacy settings that may need to be adjusted via Xbox settings:
- Communication & multiplayer
- “You can join multiplayer games,” set to Allow
- “You can join cross-network play,” set to Allow
- “Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites,” set to Everybody
- “You can communicate outside of Xbox with voice & text,” set to Everybody
- Game content
- “You can see and upload community creations,” set to Everybody
Game description:
Join over 27 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience all the hallmarks of the best-selling franchise – an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of diverse and captivating environments to explore.
Discussion (2 replies)
Join Discussion →Wait is that in addition to the game sub. If so... BS.
Yup. You can thank Microsoft for this - this is why FFXIV didn't originally release on Xbox. I'm actually surprised they did this after all this time of resisting this very thing. I guess S/E ain't what she used to be though, so maybe I shouldn't be that shocked and be thankful they haven't added NFTs and AI to the game.
That said - you can play a lot of that game without any sub at all. I think the base game + first 2 expansions are free - both to install and without subscription, with very few limitations.
I don't know if Xbox will get the same free trial options or not though. But for a sub-based MMO, it has a very generous free trial option.