Xbox Adds Major 2026 Freebie You Don't Need Game Pass For

Xbox users without an Xbox Game Pass subscription don’t get a ton of excellent free offers throughout the year, but it seems they’re in luck and will be starting 2026 off with a bang.

The critically acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is currently available to play for free as a demo version right now on Xbox, no Game Pass required. The FF7 Remake demo lets players try the entire first chapter of the game for free, and allows save files to carry over if you decide to purchase the full game.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Is Free To Try On Xbox

If you haven’t had the chance to play the new FF7 Remake Intergrade, now is the perfect time to give it a run and see what the hype is all about. Xbox users can play the demo for the game right now, which includes the full first chapter of the game.

The FF7 Remake comes highly recommended for fans of the classic game, and also for fans of GOTY-winning indie hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which was heavily influenced by FF7’s “hybrid turn-based” combat mechanics. It is a visual masterpiece, touting “a wealth of graphical, gameplay and system enhancements” that completely reimagines the classic experience, delivering something unmissable for modern players.

FF7 Remake Intergrade launched originally on PlayStation as an “enhanced and expanded version” of the original FF7 Remake that includes a “new episode featuring Yuffie is a brand-new adventure in the world.” FF7 Remake Intergrade is currently available for pre-order on Xbox, with a free demo available to play for the time being.

Get Your Hands On It While You Can

A meditative Rufus Shinra sits in his corporate chair

The demo for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is free for Xbox users now even without Game Pass, but that may not last long considering the full release is slated for January 22. If you play the demo, you can actually hold on to your save file for the full version release (with a few caveats), so your time in the demo won’t be wasted, and you can pick up where you left off.

While the demo may be available beyond January 22, it could also be removed shortly after the full release, so it’s better to act while you can and dive in while it’s free to try. The demo is a great way for players on the fence about FF7 to see for themselves why the game is so highly recommended.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade currently has an impressive 89 Metacritic score, and is regarded as a quintessential experience for fans of the original.