In July 2025, Ubisoft announced a significant promotional offer for its popular melee combat game, For Honor, making the Standard Edition available to play for free across multiple platforms for a limited period. This initiative represents a common strategy within the digital entertainment sector, allowing consumers to experience a full game without initial financial commitment, akin to the no-cost product trials found in other consumer categories. The offer provided an opportunity for UK-based gamers to explore the game’s features, including its cross-platform play and story campaign, before deciding on a potential purchase.
The free access period was scheduled to run from Thursday, 24th July to Thursday, 31st July 2025 for console players on PlayStation and Xbox systems. For players using the Ubisoft Connect platform on PC, the free week was extended, running from 24th July through to 4th August 2025. Preloading for the game was made available from 22nd July, allowing participants to download the game files ahead of the official start time to ensure immediate play upon launch. All progress made during the free trial period was stated to carry over to a full purchase should a player decide to buy the game after the promotional window.
The offer was designed to be accessible worldwide, with specific geographical exceptions noted in the terms. For all platforms, the free week was not available in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Belarus, or Russia. Additional restrictions applied to specific platforms: for Ubisoft Connect, access was also excluded in Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Syrian Arab Republic. For the Epic Games Store version, excluded territories included China, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Burma, North Korea, and Syria.
The game itself, For Honor, features a strategic combat system described as the “Art of Battle,” which rewards precision and timing. Players can choose from five distinct factions: Knights, Vikings, Samurai, Wu Lin, or Outlanders. The roster includes 30 unique heroes, each with customisable gear and fighting styles. The game also offers a story campaign, described as a six-hour narrative of faction warfare, and supports cross-platform play, enabling competition against players on different systems.
This promotional event aligns with broader trends in digital content distribution, where limited-time free access serves as a primary method for user acquisition and brand exposure. For UK consumers, such offers provide a risk-free method to evaluate a product’s suitability before committing to a purchase, similar to sampling programmes in beauty or household goods categories.
Understanding the Free Week Structure
The For Honor free week was structured to accommodate different player ecosystems, with distinct timelines for console and PC users. This segmentation is a common practice in platform-specific promotions, often dictated by agreements with platform holders like Sony, Microsoft, and Valve (for Steam), or by the publisher’s own distribution platform (Ubisoft Connect).
Console Access (PlayStation and Xbox)
For players on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the free access window was scheduled from Thursday, 24th July to Thursday, 31st July 2025. This one-week period provided a full seven days for participants to download, install, and play the game. The preload option, available from 22nd July, was crucial for ensuring a smooth start, as it allowed users to prepare the necessary files before the free period commenced, avoiding potential download bottlenecks on launch day.
PC Access via Ubisoft Connect
The PC version, accessed through Ubisoft’s own launcher, Ubisoft Connect, offered an extended free period. The window ran from 24th July through to 4th August 2025, giving players an additional four days compared to the console offering. This extension is likely intended to drive engagement with Ubisoft’s proprietary platform, encouraging users to install and use Ubisoft Connect, which facilitates direct communication, updates, and future purchases from the publisher.
Preload Details
The preload phase began on 22nd July, two days before the official start of the free week on most platforms. This is a standard technical measure to distribute the game’s data files in advance, reducing server strain and ensuring players can begin gaming immediately when the promotion goes live. For a game of this size, preloading is particularly important to avoid lengthy download times that could cut into the limited free play period.
Eligibility and Geographical Restrictions
While the offer was promoted as “worldwide,” several countries and territories were explicitly excluded from participation. These restrictions are typically due to licensing agreements, international sanctions, or regional distribution rights.
The exclusion list varied slightly depending on the platform: - For all platforms (including console and PC via Ubisoft Connect): The free week was not available in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Belarus, or Russia. - For Ubisoft Connect (PC): Additional exclusions applied to Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Syrian Arab Republic. - For the Epic Games Store (a separate PC platform): Excluded territories included China, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Burma, North Korea, and Syria.
UK-based players were not subject to any of these geographical restrictions and could freely access the offer on their chosen platform.
Game Features Accessible During the Free Trial
The free week provided full access to the For Honor Standard Edition, allowing players to experience the core gameplay mechanics and content. Key features included:
Combat System
The game is built around the “Art of Battle” combat system, which emphasises directional attacks, parries, and feints. This system is designed to be strategic and skill-based, moving beyond simple button-mashing. Players must read their opponent’s movements and react accordingly, creating a high-stakes, tactical experience.
Factions and Heroes
Participants could choose from five factions, each with a distinct aesthetic and playstyle: the Knights, Vikings, Samurai, Wu Lin, and Outlanders. Within these factions, there are 30 unique heroes to master. Each hero has a specific set of weapons, armour, and abilities, allowing for diverse combat approaches. During the free trial, players could experiment with different heroes to find one that suited their preferred style.
Story Campaign
The game includes a single-player story campaign, described as a six-hour narrative experience. This campaign serves as an introduction to the game’s world and lore, providing context for the faction warfare. It allows players to engage with the game’s setting and characters without the pressure of multiplayer competition.
Cross-Platform Play
A significant feature highlighted for the free week was cross-platform play. This functionality enables players on different systems—such as PlayStation, Xbox, and PC—to compete against each other in multiplayer matches. This expands the player pool, potentially leading to faster matchmaking times and a more vibrant community during the promotional period.
Progress Retention and Purchase Pathway
A critical aspect of the free week offer was the assurance that all player progress would be retained if a user decided to purchase the full game after the trial. This includes any experience points earned, character levels, unlocked gear, and cosmetic items obtained during the free period. This policy is designed to remove a barrier to trial participation; users can invest time in the game without fear of losing their accomplishments.
Should a player wish to continue playing after the free week ends, the Standard Edition of For Honor would need to be purchased. The progress made during the free trial would seamlessly carry over to the full version. This pathway is a common conversion strategy in digital gaming, where free access serves as an extended demonstration, leading to a paid upgrade.
Context of Digital Game Promotions
The For Honor free week is an example of a broader marketing strategy used across the digital entertainment industry. These limited-time free access events, often called “Free Play Weeks” or “Free Weekends,” serve multiple purposes for publishers and developers. They act as a powerful user acquisition tool, introducing the game to a vast audience that may have been hesitant to purchase it outright. For older titles like For Honor, which was originally released in 2017, such promotions help to revitalise the player base and maintain community engagement.
From a consumer perspective, these offers provide significant value. They allow players to evaluate a game’s performance on their specific hardware, assess whether the gameplay loop is enjoyable, and determine if the game is worth the asking price. This risk-free trial is analogous to sampling a new food product or trying a cosmetic item before buying a full-size version.
Technical and Logistical Considerations for Participants
For UK consumers considering participation in such a free week, several logistical points are worth noting. First, ensuring adequate storage space on the console or PC is essential, as modern games can require significant disk space. Second, a stable internet connection is necessary for both the initial download and for online multiplayer components. Third, creating or linking the relevant platform account (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or a Ubisoft Connect account) is a prerequisite for accessing the game.
The preload option, available from 22nd July, is highly recommended to avoid last-minute technical issues. By downloading the game files in advance, players can begin playing the moment the free period starts, maximising their available playtime.
Conclusion
The For Honor free week in July 2025 offered a substantial and time-limited opportunity for UK-based gamers to experience a critically acclaimed title at no cost. With distinct access periods for console and PC platforms, a preload option, and the retention of all progress for potential future purchasers, the promotion was structured to be both accessible and compelling. The geographical restrictions, while excluding certain territories, did not affect UK participants. The event underscores the utility of free trial models in the digital gaming space, providing a low-risk method for consumers to explore new entertainment products, much like free samples and trials in other consumer goods categories.