Final Fantasy 14 free trial extended after major server congestion issues

Square Enix is extending its original week-long free trial for the re-released Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, adding an additional seven days of free play for users following major server congestion issues that reared its head after the game's launch late last month.

Additionally, players who haven't entered their free trial registration codes yet will also receive an additional seven-day trial if they register prior to Sept. 9.

The re-released MMO was pushed beyond its maximum server capacity when it launched on Aug. 27. As a result Square Enix implemented log-in and character creation restrictions to allow access to as many players as possible. The team is now planning to perform maintenance on the game between Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. PST to Sept. 4 at 3 a.m. PST to increase the number of worlds, reduce stress on servers and increase number of concurrent log-ins allowed on each server.

"Since the beginning of official service on August 27, 2013, the number of users attempting to access the game has significantly exceeded our initial estimates," reads a post on the official Final Fantasy 14 website. "While we are pleased to see support for the game reach far beyond our expectations, the servers were not prepared to handle this influx of players. As a result, our servers have been pushed beyond maximum capacity. In order to allow access to as many users as possible, we have implemented login and character creation restrictions. We understand, however, that these restrictions have greatly inconvenienced our players."