Have you been taking a break from Final Fantasy XIV since Endwalker? What if you’ve never played FFXIV before, and want to try it out for the first time? Thankfully, the game is currently on sale for another week, so this is your chance to pick up Dawntrail before the upcoming 11th Anniversary on August 27th!
Final Fantasy XIV has various game editions for players to choose from, and quite honestly, it can be overwhelming! Do the different editions lock features behind expensive subscription models? Which game edition should I buy?
Today, we’ll be covering everything you need to know when purchasing the game for the first time! Perhaps this will be useful for friends who are interested in playing together with you! Let’s review:
How Long is the Sale Going On For?
Final Fantasy XIV will be on sale for 40% off until Wednesday, August 27th, 2025 on all platforms except the Microsoft Store (for Xbox). Since it was added later, Microsoft Store’s sale will run until Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025.
This means you have about a week left to purchase FFXIV on the following platforms:
- Playstation Store (PS5, PS4),
- Steam,
- Square Enix Store or Mog Station (Windows, Mac)
And two weeks left to purchase FFXIV on the Microsoft Store (for Xbox players).
How Do I Pick a Game Edition to Buy?
So there are three paid game editions available for FFXIV: Starter Edition, Complete Edition, and Complete Collector’s Edition. There is also the Free Trial version, which we’ve included further in this post. It can be kind of confusing, so let’s break each edition down:
| – Do you just want to try the game out, or play for free? – Are you okay with game restrictions? – Do you want to play with friends (with restrictions)? | If yes to any, Play the Free Trial for free No Subscription Required |
| – Do you want to play with a Free Company? – Do you want access to all features (up to Level 70)? – Do you want priority login when servers are busy? – Are you okay with a recurring subscription? – Are you okay with some restrictions (on Jobs and Races)? | If yes to any, Purchase the Starter Edition instead Must Pay for a Subscription (Entry or Standard) |
| – Do you want to play the latest expansions, including Dawntrail? – Do you want to enjoy end-game content, such as raiding or the latest story updates? – Do you want to play as a Viera and/or Hrothgar? – Do you want to play all of the jobs available? | If yes to any, Purchase the Complete Edition instead Must Pay for a Subscription (Entry or Standard) If you already have the Starter Edition, purchase the Dawntrail expansion via Mogstation |
| – Do you want all, or any, of the bonus items exclusive to each expansion? – Do you want all of the features included in the Complete Edition? | If yes to all, Purchase the Complete Collector’s Edition instead Must Pay for a Subscription (Entry or Standard) If you play on Steam, You will need to purchase the Collector’s Edition separately (via Mogstation, Steam’s Dawntrail DLC page) |
For the full details, be sure to check out the official Product Comparison page. After purchasing any game edition mentioned, the game will only be accessible when your subscription is active. If you take a break and stop paying, you will need to re-subscribe later on.
After a period of inactivity, you can return for free during certain campaigns, such as the Callback Campaign or Free Login Campaign. If you want to play the game for free indefinitely, you should stay on the Free Trial.
How to Play FFXIV for Free
If you’re unsure or not ready to commit yet, you can still try out Final Fantasy XIV for free! The Free Trial includes all the game content from A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood expansions. Players can reach Level 70 at their own pace (no time restrictions!), enjoy a total of 16 Battle jobs, and level all of the Disciples of Land and Hand too! You can also enjoy various mini-games available from the Gold Saucer!
If we had to recommend one ultimate resource for everything about the Free Trial, check out the Trials of Fantasy! It covers all the Free Trial restrictions, how to make the most out of your Free Trial, and how to upgrade to the full game later! You can also review the official list of rules and restrictions on the Free Trial page here.
What Platforms are Supported? Do I Meet the Requirements?
Currently, Final Fantasy XIV officially supports playing on the:
- Playstation 4 and Playstation 5
- Steam
- Windows 10 (until October 15th, 2025)
- Windows 11
- Mac OS (macOS Ventura 13.0, macOS Sonoma 14.5, macOS Sequoia 15.3.1)
- Xbox Series X|S
Notably, players still on Windows 10 will need to consider upgrading their systems by mid-October of this year. That’s about two months away! For more information, check out our notice summary on Icy Veins!
If you’re not in the loop on what’s coming soon to Final Fantasy XIV, feel free to check out our Patch 7.3 summary. It covers everything in the next three and a half months, so you have plenty of time to catch up if you haven’t done so already!
Time’s running out, and you likely won’t see another sale this low until the holidays! Be sure to try the game soon, dear incoming Warriors of Light!
