Square Enix Offers Further 30 Day Extension Of Final Fantasy XIV Trial Period

Square Enix today extended the free trial period for its Final Fantasy XIV MMO, allowing existing users and those who purchase a character by November 19 an additional 30 days of free trial play. The extension comes exactly one month after the company offered a similar trial extension because of stability and performance issues with the game, which seem to still be unresolved to the publisher's satisfaction. The company said it plans to address these problems and implement a comprehensive set of improvements in a series of large-scale version updates to come before the end of the year. "We are adamant that [players] should be given the opportunity to experience these changes firsthand before deciding to fully commit to the game," the company wrote on the game's official site. The extension means Square Enix is forfeiting another $12.99 in potential monthly subscription fees from hundreds of thousands of players who have purchased the $49.99 game or its $74.99 collector's edition since their September release. Reviewers have been highly critical of the game, giving it the lowest aggregate marks for a numbered game in the Final Fantasy series. In September, Square Enix revealed a partnership with Chinese MMO developer Shanda to bring Final Fantasy XIV to China, a first for the long-running series.