How to play Final Fantasy 14 for free on Switch 2: Over 200 hours of content without paying

Final Fantasy 14 is one of the best MMOs available today. In fact, many consider it the best installment in the series over the past 10 years, both in terms of content and execution. On August 4, it debuts on Nintendo Switch 2, a moment that will allow players to join the world from anywhere thanks to the console’s design (and get ready for the 2027 expansion). Square Enix offers a very generous free-to-play edition, which we’ll detail below.

Everything You Need to Know About the Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial on Nintendo Switch 2

The “free trial,” as Square Enix calls it, lets all new players enjoy the full Final Fantasy XIV experience with very few limitations. It gives you access to A Realm Reborn, the game’s base campaign, and its three subsequent expansions: Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. With just these, you’ll have at least 200 hours of content to enjoy without paying a subscription fee.

There are very few limitations to the free trial. Here they are:

• You cannot access the auction house to buy and sell items from other players.
• You cannot trade.
• You cannot hold more than 300,000 gil at any one time.
• You cannot use chat or send private messages.
• You cannot create groups, though you can be invited to one.
• You cannot use the official forums.
• You cannot play PvP.
• You cannot play Ultimate Raids.

As you can see, the restrictions are minimal if you consider yourself a solo player. Throughout all the content you have access to, you practically don’t need any of that. Perhaps the biggest issue is the amount of gil, but it’s not something you have to manage in great detail as you progress through the main quests.

All new players (i.e., those creating a new account on MogStation) who download the free trial and access the game for the first time through it will be able to enjoy this version. If you use an account that purchased the game, this option will no longer be available, and you’ll have to start paying for the subscription.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you want to play for free, you shouldn’t purchase any of the editions available on the Nintendo eShop. When the game launches on August 4, the free trial option will become available—that’s why it isn’t visible in advance. Make sure you have enough storage space: the game requires 117 GB of available space.

On the other hand, if you want to buy it, you’ll get one month of free play without a subscription starting on launch day. With this measure, the developers are preventing people from paying for a new version that may have stability issues with its online infrastructure during its first few days.

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