Current Events > FF14 stormblood expansion is free(starter edition required)

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/814034/final-fantasy-xiv-stormblood
https://store.steampowered.com/app/582380/FINAL_FANTASY_XIV_Stormblood/

probably includes heavensward too since expansions were supposedly made retroactive so the newest one always included the past expansions.

I keep wanting to start playing ff14 again, but the massive amount of content intimidates me

Damn, ARR+HW was already easily hundreds of hours of free content, and now they're given away 100s more? It's a fucking steal.

itachi15243 posted...

I keep wanting to start playing ff14 again, but the massive amount of content intimidates me

It def took me a full year to get caught up from ARR to Endwalker's release, but I can't say I didn't have a blast doing it. Granted, I was unemployed at the time due to Covid so I had a lot of free time -- can't really see myself getting into an MMO while working.

itachi15243 posted...

I keep wanting to start playing ff14 again, but the massive amount of content intimidates me

should be excited you got so much to play, just focus on the MSQ that's a straight shot to the end

When is that next expansion coming? I want to jump back into the world of Eorzea!

Pikachuchupika posted...

When is that next expansion coming? I want to jump back into the world of Eorzea!

probably next year

Yeah, it's usually 2 years between expansions but covid and everything delayed things, so it's probably gonna be more like 2-1/2 years this time around. So I'm expecting mid-2024.

They're also in the process of updating the textures for everything so it doesn't stay looking like a PS3 game, with the graphic update dropping with the next expansion, iirc, so that's obv gonna make things take a bit more time.

Should be noted that Stormblood is only accessible for free on the "Starter Edition" which isn't quite the same as the (actually free) ARR+HW free trial and still requires a subscription after 30 days.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood is currently available free* for a limited time to existing owners and new purchasers of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Starter Edition (A Realm Reborn).
*Requires an active paid service subscription to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online.

Ah, so you're still paying your monthly sub, you just don't have to pay the $60 for Stormblood itself.

That's still kinda neat I guess. I honestly feel like that's how things should be anyway -- getting the expansions for free since you're paying Square every month anyway.

Unfortunately Stormblood was a bid step down after HW.

I wont call it trash (because people get mad when I do), but its very disappointing.

Maybe because I binged it all in the months leading up to Endwalker, or maybe because Lyse is my favorite character, but I thought Stormblood was fine. Obv not as good as HW or ShB, but still entertaining.

It's such a weird giveaway. You need to have only the FFXIV starter edition but it's a very pointless purchase, you might as well buy the complete edition whenever you migrate from the free trial.

BurmesePenguin posted...

Unfortunately Stormblood was a bid step down after HW.

I wont call it trash (because people get mad when I do), but its very disappointing.

I didn't think it was that much of a step down. And it certainly raises the bar with raids and some of the bosses.

Is this free forever?

Makes sense though. Blizzard eventually just decided to make every expansion but the latest completely free. At a certain point, having the customer buy every single expansion is a big ask. Seems like FFXIV just figured this out a little faster.