New FF14 free login campaign is a great time to try Dawntrail's fantastic finale

The Final Fantasy 14 free login campaign is back, and it's the perfect opportunity to catch up on the post-Dawntrail patches and see where the story of FF14 7.3 is taking us next. We've just hit the grand finale of the latest expansion, and been given our first hint at what's next as we look to 8.0. If you've fallen off the MMORPG of late, this new event is the ideal time to check in, as you can play through the new MSQ, raids, and alliance raids without having to pull out your wallet.

I've already made a (largely story spoiler-free) case for why The Promise of Tomorrow update has me excited for the future of Final Fantasy 14. On the narrative side, while I enjoyed many parts of Dawntrail, there's no arguing that it proved a divisive fresh start for one of the best MMORPGs around. It's been good to see such a widespread positive reaction to the latest couple of chapters, then, with many players who didn't enjoy 7.0's writing and pacing expressing cautious optimism about patches 7.2 and 7.3.

While you could take the word of others for it, Square Enix is clearly eager to capitalize on this positivity and invite players who've fallen off back to see what's changed. The FF14 free login campaign is designed for players who were previously subscribed but have been inactive for at least the past 30 days. While the event is available for a month, you get access for just four full days starting from the first time you log in and activate the trial period, so make sure you've got some free space ahead before you begin.

Once in, you'll have access to everything your account normally does, so as long as you own Dawntrail you'll be able to play all the newest content. Enjoy the climactic parts of the current story arc, dive into the chaos of the latest FF11 crossover alliance raid, Echoes of Vana'diel, or join the desperate hunt for a super-valuable Yan mount in the new slot machine-infused treasure dungeon, Vault Oneiron. You'll also be able to check out some of the additional quality-of-life features in 7.3 like chat bubbles and the gpose portrait mode.

While you only have four days to hand, that's enough time to see through the post-Dawntrail MSQ if you have a few free evenings or a weekend to hand. If you've already played some of the past patches, or want to try more of the new expansion's excellent battle content, I'd highly recommend the Arcadion raids and the two alliance raid stages that are currently available. You could even dip into the Occult Crescent for a few critical engagements if you love a spot of chaos.

The FF14 free login campaign for returners runs from Thursday August 21 at 1am PT / 4am ET / 9am BST / 10am CEST to Tuesday September 23 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST / 4pm CEST. You'll have access for four days including the day you first log in, ending at midnight in your region on the last day counted. You can check all the details via the Lodestone before logging in. Note that your account must have been inactive for at least 30 days to be eligible for the promotion.

Note that you won't be compensated for any downtime due to maintenance, so keep an eye on the current FF14 server status to make sure you don't get caught out. You can also check in with the latest FF14 system requirements to make sure your PC is up to speed.

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