It took over a decade, but the critically acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy 14 is finally coming to Xbox consoles. This would have been a welcome move by fans of the series if it wasn’t for one major issue: a Game Pass subscription is necessary. It appears Xbox users will end up paying more, almost double, than players on PC and PlayStation.
This announcement was made ahead of the launch of the Xbox open beta which will allow new players to experience the game before the full launch on 21 February 2024. However, the requirement for a double subscription may impact the game’s overall player base.
Final Fantasy 14’s foray into Xbox may not go as smoothly as fans hoped
The information regarding the subscription comes from the game’s official website in the “How to Participate” section which states,
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.
This move is unusual, and some may call it greedy, as other platforms only require a game subscription to play the MMO. A monthly Entry level subscription to Final Fantasy 14 is $12.99 while the standard subscription is $14.99. The cheapest Game pass tier, Core, costs $9.99 while Ultimate costs $16.99. So, someone looking to play the game on Xbox will have to pay a minimum of $23 every month.
Xbox users are definitely going to see this as an unfair move, as PlayStation and PC users need to only pay the games subscription cost. The price can change if Xbox users choose the longer-term subscriptions, but will ultimately still be paying two fees to access the game. This fee does not apply to the open beta test, but existing players will not be allowed to experience the free trial. Only new players are granted access to that feature, and the game data will carry over to the full game on launch.
The launch of the full game will occur as soon as the open beta test concludes
New players can access the open beta test on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at around 3:00 a.m. EST. The trial and launch comes after a long wait for Final Fantasy fans, as the release was first teased back in 2023 during the Las Vegas Fan Fest. The keynote address showcased Final Fantasy: Dawntrail, the fifth expansion to the game since its release back in 2013. The expansion will include the first major graphical update, along with the Viper and Pictomancer Jobs.
Final Fantasy 14 has dedicated servers, so Xbox users can enjoy cross-platform play between PlayStation and PC users. The free trial will also include the Stormblood expansion, and players will be given the choice to upgrade to the full game once the trial has ended. But, do you feel Xbox is right in asking users to pay two fees to access a single game? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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