World of Warcraft has spent the last few expansions making it easier than ever for new players to jump in. Exile’s Reach is a streamlined introduction, Lorewalking brings you up to date with the story, and the levelling experience has been hugely streamlined.
But according to players, there’s still one part of the game stuck in the past: the free trial.
Is WoW’s Free Trial Outdated?
A recent discussion on Reddit has sparked debate over whether WoW’s free trial is still good enough, especially when compared to the generous free offerings from other MMOs.
It’s hard to argue with the sentiment. Modern WoW is far from the same game it was when the level 20 cap was introduced. In the past, getting to level 20 represented a decent chunk of play time, however, now it’s a fraction of that.
These days, level 20 is barely enough to get a taste of questing and combat. It definitely does not allow for new players to experience what keeps most veteran players logging in.
The Competition Comparison
Understandably, the comparison that keeps coming up is Final Fantasy XIV. FFXIV famously lets new players experience multiple expansions without paying a subscription, giving new players much more time to decide whether the game is for them.
Of course, Blizzard’s situation isn’t identical. Starter accounts have long been restricted to help combat botting and gold selling. Still, the level cap itself could be increased without removing those protections. Even 20-30 more levels could allow newcomers to explore more zones, unlock more talents, and spend enough time in Azeroth to decide whether they actually want to stay.
Players have been calling for WoW’s free trial to be updated for years, and it’s a topic that keeps coming up. Would increasing the level cap suddenly flood Azeroth with new subscribers? Probably not. But if Blizzard wants curious players to see why so many still play, they might consider extending the experience before asking them to pull out their wallets.
