Mind, it's not just free players getting all the goods today.
Today's patch also brings some much-needed streamlining to A Realm Reborn's questlines, shortening the arc with bumped-up XP and gear rewards, and adding flying mounts to early areas after beating the main scenario. Anyone who picked up A Realm Reborn but never got 'round to its expansions will now find themselves with full access to all of Heavensward.
Access to Heavensward isn't limited to trial players, either. Additionally, free players can now also work their way up to level 60, have access to three more jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist) and can choose to play as the Au Ra, a race comprised of sexy demonfolk. To get through a whole 'nuther expansion, FFXIV's has also removed playtime restrictions from its trial. But if Patch 5.3's done anything, it's given fence-sitters like me a hell of an excuse to try out a massive portion of the game without spending a penny. I couldn't tell you what's going on in FFXIV's plot these days. Closing out Shadowbringers' story may be Patch 5.3: Reflections in Crystal's headline act - but if you've only just started dipping your toe into the massive online JRPG, today's update gives you a hell of a lot more content to prod at with 2015's Heavensward expansion. Fortunately, Square Enix have made that hill a little easier to climb.
Getting into a new MMORPG is always a little daunting, never mind one as huge as Final Fantasy XIV.
