FFXIV Free Trial Period Extended Due To Game's 'Current State'

In response to Final Fantasy XIV's cool reception from both fans and critics, Square Enix has extended the MMORPG's free trial period by an extra month due to the game's current state. Launched across Japan, Europe, and North America on September 21st, Final Fantasy XIV has suffered complaints from fans regarding a number of issues like lag, sparsely populated zones, missing explanations/guides for systems, user interface deficiencies, and other problems. Reviewers have also panned the online title for the same flaws, calling it "an unfinished product", "a travesty", and "unacceptable -- its aggregate Metacritic score currently sits at 54, the lowest for any numbered Final Fantasy release. As the company implements changes based on the feedback it's received, Square Enix will extend the subscription-based game's free trial period from 30 to 60 days for anyone that's purchased FFXIV and registered an account before October 25th. The PC game has a $49.99 version and a $74.99 collector's edition (monthly charge of $12.99). "Considering the nature of much of the feedback we received ... and the current state of the game, we have decided to extend the free trial period for all users," the publisher said in a statement. "We would like to assure players that the world of Final Fantasy XIV is constantly growing and evolving, and the voices of the community are essential to that process." Square Enix continues, "The development and management teams are carefully considering all player feedback, and working diligently to implement whatever changes and additions will serve to make Eorzea a better home for adventurers. We humbly ask for your continued support to this end."