Even then though the subs will be available for lower-than-usual prices and will remain that way until the 2.0 update launches later in the year; the 30-day subscription will be ¥680 (normally ¥980) and the 90-day one ¥1,740 (normally ¥2,640), Andriasang is reporting.

V2 is expected to go live in Oct-Dec 2012, with a closed PS3 beta launching around that timeframe as well.

Since having quite the botched launch on PC last year, the console version of the MMO — 100% confirmed for PlayStation 3 only so far — took a backseat as Square was focused on fixing the PC game.

Now though, with the announcement that the MMO will hit PlayStation 3 late next year, along with what’s essentially a relaunch of the PC version, it’s a good time to revisit the 360 question.

“Because the game is developed on the PC, moving it to the Xbox 360 platform wouldn’t be that difficult,” producer/director Naoki Yoshida told RPGsite in an interview, “but as we said before, the thing we have to get done first is getting that PS3 version done.”

“Once that’s done, we can take the next step from there. We are continuing our talks with Microsoft, but then you think, maybe next year Microsoft might be announcing their next hardware, and so our decision is do we wait for that next hardware?”

For now though, it’s all about living up to their promises, and that means the PS3 version comes first: “The one thing to regain that damaged player trust is to keep those promises, and one of the promises was to release a PlayStation 3 version – we made that promise long, long ago, and we still haven’t kept it.

“We made that promise not only to the players, but to Sony as well. The first thing that we need to do, to regain that trust, is to fulfill those promises of bringing the PS3 version. Our priority right now is getting that version finished.”

Next October-December will see the release of the game’s Version 2.0, which applies to both PC and PS3. A new trial period will be offered, along with a beta on the PS3.

In addition, plans to make the MMO pay-to-play again has also been announced. Starting later this year, the monthly subscriptions — which have been disabled since last year due to the MMO’s horrible launch — will resume.

“In the ten months since the FINAL FANTASY XIV team’s restructuring, we have put forth the utmost effort into not only improving the game’s existing features, but also creating a concrete plan to outline the game’s new direction,” CEO Yoichi Wada said in an open letter.

“Today, I am pleased to announce we can confidently present that plan to our customers. We fully realize this is but a single step towards our ultimate goal, and that to meet the high standards set in the plan, more time is required. In the meantime, however, we will not waver in our commitment to bringing players exciting and engaging content, even as the game moves through its evolution.”

There are more fresh details to be had; read the open letter in full here.

Producer Naoki Yoshida gave the estimation when asked, during a recent fan Q&A (via), why players should return to the game and what the current main feature is considered to be.

“It’s hard to say in its current state. We are only about 50% done regarding content,” Yoshida said. “However, if we are talking about 1.19 [patch], I would have to say chocobos and Ifrit will be the main content. Everyone should get that FF-feeling with this content.”

Head to this update on FF14‘s site for a look at the Ifrit battle and some Chocobo riding to decide if it’s indeed worth returning for.

Work to improve the game continues though, with another patch due out soon. And there’ll be many more; “We’ll continue with our reform work, which basically amounts to fully redoing the game, and hope to revive the FF14 that should have been released,” Wada also said.

Still no word on the possible released of the PS3 version though. It’s been AWOL for roughly a year now.

The publisher stated (via StrategyInformer): ”The Chocobo whistle item will be introduced, allowing adventurers to call forth their personal mounts while out in the field. These chocobos will boast a speed advantage over their rental counterparts, and all adventurers are wholeheartedly encouraged to aspire to a bird that they can call their own.”

Chocobo upgrading will be included in later patches. Does anyone else remember when this one was meant to come to PS3? Those were the days…

Square Enix have had their servers for both Final Fantasty XI and Final Fantasy XIV offline since March 13, due to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The developer reports that the servers take up 11.6 percent of its Tokyo office’s energy use, thus they had to be halted to conserve energy.

That ends this Friday though, as the servers go back online. To make up for the energy usage, Square report that they’ll be shutting off air conditioning and using other power conservation techniques. That doesn’t guarantee that servers will remain online going forward though.

As promised, FFXI won’t be billed for their April subscription.

Square Enix has had anything but an easy few months since the launch of its second MMO entry to its flagship Final Fantasy series. Sure, Final Fantasy XIV has had its bugs – many of which are gradually being resolved – but it’s the game’s early content that is taking the majority of the heat now.

After numerous heads have rolled within the development team, trial periods extended and bug-squashing patches released, Square Enix is now polling its PC subscribers to hear what they think of the game and its future in order to prioritize future updates before the delayed PS3 version drops later this year.

The poll gives subscribers a set of multiple-choice questions on what they would like to see improved first covering  bugs, in-game content and even the official website’s content.

Interestingly, the poll also asks subscribers whether they would be happy with changes that would “drastically alter the rules already set,” which doesn’t sound too dissimilar to Star Wars Galaxies’ New Game Enhancements which fell foul of many seasoned players and caused a large spike in subscriber cancellations back in 2007.

In the email to subscribers, Naoki Yoshida, the new director-producer for the title, also highlights four new cryptic keywords which the team is now using to structure the future direction for Final Fantasy XIV: “fun, live, reboot, and rebuild.”

Presumably he wants the game to actually be fun, providing an immersive environment players can ‘live in’ through a major reboot and rebuild of the game experience. Hopefully this renewed direction won’t delay the PS3 version any further, but whether it’s too little, too late for existing PC subscribers remains to be seen.

If there are any children in site of your screen cover their eyes; we’re going to talk about Final Fantasy XIV and (as usual) it’s not pretty. The March release for the PS3 version of the MMO? Not happening.

This time the news comes from Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada. Apparently getting the PS3 version up to scratch is going to take more time: “Regarding the PlayStation 3, it is not our wish to release a simple conversion of the Windows version in its current state, but rather an update that includes all the improvements we have planned. For that reason, we have made the difficult decision to delay the release of the PlayStation 3 version beyond the originally announced date of March 2011.”

Not only that, but Wada has decided to lay down his role as producer in response to the game essentially being pretty pants ever since it launched: “I would like to apologize for our inability to fully satisfy our users with the initial release of Final Fantasy XIV. I take full responsibility for the game’s current situation, and have therefore made the decision to step down from my role as producer. Though no longer producer, I will be continuing to support the development team in other capacities.”

Just how much more bad news can FFXIV take?

We’ve been able to play Final Fantasy XIV on PC (for free) for a few months now, but those holding out on the PS3 version are still sat patiently waiting. To tide you over Squeenix director Nobuaki Komoto has offered a brief status update on the port. He’s told Famitsu that “in terms of the port, the PC version is 100% complete and running on the PS3.”

“We’re currently busy optimizing PS3 performance to make it run as smoothly as possible. We’re doing everything we can to make it perform closely to the PC version, so it may prove to take more time to release.”

Is it possible that the game will be delayed further past it’s March release then? “We’ll also use that time to implement the fixes suggested by PC gamers.”

If a delay means that the PS3 version is a step up from the poor-received PC original then we’ll gladly wait.

Still on the fence about trying out Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV Online? You’re in luck. The 30-day free trial has been extended for another 30 days. This is the second time the end-date has been pushed back, and the developers are anxious to show off the changes they’ve made to the game in order to entice new players.

“We’re quickly working on reforms,” CEO Yoichi Wada explained. “We’d like to put our full power into regaining trust. If we satisfy our users, they will return. On the other hand, once the users say, ‘forget this,’ there’s no turning back. We can only recover our trust so far.”

The game’s official website urges players to try the game before committing, so if you missed out on the last free trial, here’s a second chance.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV has sold 630,000 copies since its launch in late September, company man Yoichi Wada has confirmed. That’s worldwide sales for the PC version then; 230k in Europe, 210k in North America, and 190k in homeland Japan.

The CEO revealed the figures during an investors meeting earlier today where he also gave assurances of the company’s commitment to improving the MMO. “We’re quickly working on reforms. We’d like to put our full power into regaining trust,” he said.

“If we satisfy our users, they will return. On the other hand, once the users say, ‘forget this,’ there’s no turning back. We can only recover our trust so far.”

Also confirmed was the PlayStation 3 version’s launch window: it remains on track for March 2011.

Add another two games to Sony’s 3D games line-up; both Konami’s Metal Gear Solid Rising and and Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV were confirmed to be playable in 3D at the company’s Tokyo Game Show media gathering today.

That’s the extent of it though. Trailers for both were shown, but they were old, merely in 3D.

Like the headline says, Square Enix has released a mammoth Final Fantasy XIV trailer to celebrate this week’s Tokyo Game Show in Japan. It’s all CG, and is in fact the game’s opening cinematic. And a quite nice one at that.

Those engulfed in the MMO’s on-going public beta, don’t forget: the fun stops on Sunday.. and resumes on the 30th.

For all the latest video content, visit our Trailers & Videos section.

To everyone enjoying their pre-release visit to the realms of Eorzea, aka the Final Fantasy XIV open beta, be aware that you have just one week left to enjoy the game. The word has been posted (along with some updates on the status of servers, in case you were interested) that the open beta for the PC version of the game will cease on September 19 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Naturally, the downloadable client and bug report form will no longer be available after that time as well.

It looks like the application to apply for the open beta is still active, so if you wanted to take the game for a spin while you still can, go for it. If you’ve been playing and spotted a game-breaking bug, don’t dawdle. And if you’re already addicted and madly in love with the game, fret not; the PC version hits the masses on September 30th.

Those critical, beta-delaying demons have been dealt with swiftly; after investigating and correcting the bug, Final Fantasy XIV‘s public beta is back on and kicking off later today — or really early tomorrow if you’re in Europe — Square Enix has announced.

The testing kicks off today at 7PM PDT in the US and in the wee hours of the morning (2AM GMT) in Europe.

Not too shabby; just a 24-hour delay then.

Update: And it’s back on track.

Original story: Final Fantasy XIV‘s public beta, previously scheduled to begin later today or early tomorrow depending on where you’re from, has slipped; an apparent last minute discovery of “critical bugs” has been put forth as the culprit.

Also delayed is the issuing of registration codes, and downloads of the installer will be suspended when the public testing was initially scheduled to start.

The game is still scheduled for launch in late September, but the fate of the beta remains unclear for now; Square Enix will be issuing a new schedule “at a later date.”

Square Enix wasn’t kidding when saying Final Fantasy XIV‘s open beta would begin in ‘early September’; the public testing of the MMO has been scheduled to kick off in Europe early next Wednesday, September 1st (2:00 GMT), which is a bit earlier for those in the US: 19:00 PDT on Tuesday, August 31st.

A new 3+ minute trailer — titled “Answers” after Nobuo Uematsu’s theme song — has been released as well. Find that above.

The cited technical concerns behind the delay of Final Fantasy XIV‘s PlayStation 3 version have turned out to be memory-related. In the words of producer Hiromichi Tanaka, “The main reason was the memory.”

The PS3 delay was announced in late June as the PC version got dated for a September release.

“On the PC, they have enormous memory. For PS3, there’s a restriction,” Tanaka explained while talking through a translator at Gamescom last week. “They are adjusting the memory size and customising it; it took longer then we were expecting. But we’re really working hard to bring it out as soon as possible.”

The PS3 version is currently scheduled for an early March 2011 release.

Final Fantasy XIV‘s beta is all grown up; after three rounds of closed testings, the MMO’s getting ready to flaunt its goods at the public, with an open beta scheduled to begin early next month.

“The FINAL FANTASY XIV Beta Test Phase 3 will end on August 25,” the game’s official Twitter account has informed today, “then move to the Open Beta Test in early September.”

That’s the extend of the information however — an enthusiastic “Get ready!” notwithstanding — so we’ll have to sit tight for an exact date.

The full game itself is scheduled to launch on PC on September 30th (worldwide), and the PS3 next March.

Those yet hopeful to get in on Final Fantasy XIV‘s on-going beta best look alive; Square Enix will cease taking applications starting next week, 08:00 A.M. (GMT) on Monday, August 16.

The heads up comes from the game’s Twitter account which also informs that tester selection will continue past Monday’s deadline, so should you not receive an invite from Square by then, hope remains.

Applications for the open PC beta on the other hand are just about to begin; “in the near future,” they say.

It seems after a passionate one night stand with Final Fantasy XI, Square Enix and Microsoft will not be getting together again for Final Fantasy XIV, thus the MMORPG won’t be showing up on the Xbox 360.

At least that’s how Hiromichi Tanaka has put it in a recent interview. Apparently Microsoft supported FFXI for their box simply to help with the online image they were pushing for the 360. Now that said image has been established, they’re not so welcoming to the next massively online entry. Square Enix must feel so used.

And so despite Enix being more than willing to share their flagship series, the PlayStation 3 remains the only console you’ll be able to play FFXIV on, even if it is later than PC owners who can pick it up in late September. The PS3 version is set to launch early next year.

Final Fantasy XIV‘s long-awaited beta testing will kick off this weekend, Square Enix has informed via Twitter. Tomorrow, July 10th, more precisely.

“The Beta Test begins tomorrow! Have you already installed the client software? If not, get to it!,” a tweet from earlier today urges.

This goes for this September’s PC version then; the PlayStation 3 version is delayed til ‘March 2011′ due to technical issues.

The PC version of Final Fantasy XIV was last week dated for September, while the PlayStation 3 version was pushed to 2011. And why was that, exactly?

“Technical problems,” it turns out.

That’s according to producer Hiromichi Tanaka who, while understanding “the wrath of players,” has apologized on the developers’ behalf, even if they did do “everything they could to have a simultaneous release date”.

“Unfortunately they have encountered many technical problems on the development of the game for PS3,” he explained, further adding, “We strive to release the game as soon as possible.”

“If possible, we would publish the game sooner, we would like to start as soon as possible the beta on PS3.”

The PS3 version is currently on for a ‘early March’ release.

The PC version of Final Fantasy XIV will release worldwide on September 30th, Square Enix has announced, with a $75 Collector’s Edition available on September 22nd which, thanks to the codes included, allows early access to the MMO.

Next to 30 days worth of free play (also included in regular copies), the CE packs a behind-the-scenes DVD, a map of the game world Eorzea, a travel journal, a few trinkets to show your fandom with, and a guess pass that allows to invite a friend to play for a limited time.

A yet-to-be-dated beta will launch early next month as well. Those feeling lucky can still apply here.

Despite well-publicized plans to release the two versions simultaneously, the PlayStation 3 version is now on for an “early March 2011″ launch. Pricing and other details will be announced “at a later time”.

Considering Final Fantasy XIV is due to drop internationally by the end of the year, it’s surprising that official details about exactly how the MMORPG will play are still very limited. However, if this trailer is anything to go by, Square Enix is looking to take a more action-driven approach this time around, in stark contrast to the grind-tastic (and perhaps stale) gameplay of its online predecessor Final Fantasy XI.

The game world Eorzea looks pretty sweet too, a radical move from the bleak art style of Final Fantasy XI.

Final Fantasy XIV has been announced for PS3 and PC, with talks for the Xbox 360 version still underway.

Adding to rumors earlier in the year, Final Fantasy XIV producer Hiromichi Tanaka has hinted that we may see the MMORPG hitting the Xbox 360 at some stage. Currently in development for PS3 and PC only, the title bucks the trend its online predecessor Final Fantasy XI set in creating a PS2/PC/Xbox 360 cross-platform multiplayer title.

However, Square Enix has been flirting with the Xbox 360 for some time now; sealing Microsoft exclusives with Star Ocean: The Last Hope and The Last Remnant and, more recently, breaking off Final Fantasy XIII’s PS3 exclusivity in favor of a dual-platform release.

After being asked whether Final Fantasy XIV would be brought to the Xbox 360, Tanaka replied, “we are still talking with Microsoft about an Xbox 360 version, but at the moment we are only working on the PS3 version and Windows version.”

It is still unclear whether this is a result of Microsoft’s famously-strict Xbox Live policies, Tanaka refused to comment either way. However it is reassuring that there still is that glimmer of hope for the Xbox 360 Final Fantasy fans out there.

Final Fantasy XIV is due out on PS3 and PC by the end of the year.

The Playstation blog has revealed that PS3 owners who picked up a copy of Final Fantasy XIII today have found a nice surprise sitting inside the case. A Square Enix Members points card can be found in copies from the initial production run. Register this card at Square Enix Members and you’ll earn yourself a shiny special item to use in Final Fantasy XIV. Not only that, but you’ll put yourself in the running to be included in the Beta for the PS3 version of the online RPG.

The blog also made a point of stating that PS3 will be the only console that FFXIV is available for, and that it’s still on track for 2010.

With Final Fantasy XIV on the horizon, there has apparently been some panic going around about Square Enix possibly shutting down the servers for their other, older online role-playing game, Final Fantasy XI, later in the year.

Not so, president and CEO Yoichi Wada says.

“There seems to be a rumor that FFXI is ending, but if that was done, we’d be in trouble,” Wada has informed via his Twitter account.

So FF11 is safe and sound. However its players will be presented with a choice later in the year, which is when FF14 is expected to launch for the PC, PS3, and perhaps Xbox 360 at a later date as well.

When it was revealed at E3 last year, one of Final Fantasy XIV‘s more discussed characteristics wasn’t so much that it was another stab at the MMO market for the franchise, but more that it was lined up as a PS3 console exclusive. However, this may no longer be the case; a telltale résumé from a Square Enix staffer suggests that the Final Fantasy MMO could be headed to the Xbox 360 as well.

Despite no official announcement from either Square Enix or Microsoft, the LinkedIn résumé notes that Final Fantasy XIV is currently being developed for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. If this information is to be believed, it would hardly come as a huge surprise, especially given the series recent multi-platform shenanigans in the form of Final Fantasy XIII and, you know, producer Hiromichi Tanaka outright saying that they’re in discussions with Microsoft over their Xbox Live policy.

Yes, Final Fantasy XIII was just released in Japan and isn’t even out yet anywhere else but Square Enix is already giving previews of the next game to carry the Final Fantasy name, Final Fantasy XIV. A return to the eleventh Final Fantasy‘s MMO form, it’s been discovered that FF14 will provide a slew of interesting character customization options. Namely, players will be able to customize skin tone, hair and eye color, tattoos, facial scars, and, apparently, breast size; no doubt a bit of a controversial inclusion. Details on these customization options are currently sketchy at best, so we’ll be waiting with bated breath as development progresses on the title.

Square Enix has shot out a rather sizable batch of new Final Fantasy XIV images. There’s 27 new shots total, showing both in-game scenes from the MMO as well as its cinematics. If you like what you see, don’t forget that Square has started accepting applications for the open PC beta that’ll start next year.

Speaking of Final Fantasy XIV, the upcoming MMO has started accepting beta applications. Applicants need to be at least 18 years of age, have a Square Enix ID account, plenty of hard drive space, and be coherent enough to submit bug reports in either English, Japanese, French, or German. And a little bit of luck wouldn’t hurt.

As game director Hiromichi Tanaka said back in October, the beta will happen in stages, with the number of users increasing each time. Anyone who’s not accepted right away will get their application reconsidered for the next round, so there’s no need to apply twice or more. Doing that will in fact “invalidate all of that individual’s applications.”

The beta’s happening with the PC version only right now, though the application page does mention that “details regarding recruitment for the PlayStation 3 version will be released at a later date.” So looks like there’s been a change in those PC-only plans in the last two months.

If you were to ask Square Enix president Yoichi Wada “Can World of Warcraft be dethroned by Final Fantasy XIV?” that answer might be a resounding “yes”. According to a recent interview, Wada apparently has big plans for Final Fantasy XIV and has the MMO juggernaut World of Warcraft in its crosshairs. Wada is basing his claims that WoW can be dethroned on the premise that WoW will eventually reach a crossroads. Blizzard will then be forced to make a sequel to WoW because of a down turn in subscription rates and this is where FFXIV will swoop in to take the throne.

We would much rather see WoW dethroned because Square Enix created a superior MMO, not to say that they aren’t, not because players became exhausted with WoW. Not to mention that we already know Blizzard is working on a new MMO, so they’re already planning for WoW’s eventual decline. With the success of WoW’s expansions and the excitement surrounding next year’s Cataclysm though, we’re left wondering when exactly Wada expects Blizzard to lose its throne…

Betas are all the rage these days and Square Enix’s PC, PS3, and maybe Xbox 360-bound Final Fantasy XIV certainly isn’t going to let itself be excluded from the cool pack.

Hiromichi Tanaka, the game’s director, told Japanese publication GameWatch that they will indeed be conducting a beta for the MMO, though those looking to participate in the earliest of stages may have to do some fancy scheduling — the initial runs will only last a few hours at a time. The length will then gradually increase until the beta’s online 24 hours a day which is when the full, free open beta will happen.

If UFF Site‘s translation pans out, the beta is “currently” only planned for PC which, unlike the last Final Fantasy MMO — the PS2′s Final Fantasy XI — is also being used as the lead platform.

Despite the fact that we’re still waiting on its preceding installment, Square Enix has given us a taste of Final Fantasy XIV. The video above is another trailer from TGS this week, and it goes a little in more in depth with the backstory of the realm and how its citizens spend most of their free time hanging out in a mystical pub. It has some other typical FF stuff including bigass crystals, people with animal ears, epic landscapes, and weird but familiar monsters to fight.

Revealed at E3 in June and coming out next year, this is the second Final Fantasy title to go the way of the MMO. Their website has more info about the races, skills, and general operations of the world of Eorzea. You can also find details about their beta testing so if you’re into MMOs or you just feel like skipping past Final Fantasy XIII, then check it out.

Square Enix’s 14th entry in the RPG series will be MMO-focused and, as such, will have stringent requirements for online play. At present, it seems that these requirements are not fully compatible with Microsoft’s policies for Xbox Live which is the reason Square Enix has yet to officially announce an Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy producer Hiromichi Tanaka told VG247 that “because 360 has its own policy with Xbox Live that is different from the internet, that’s something we’re in discussions with Microsoft about, to come to an agreement. That’s one of the reasons it’s not going to be launched” in conjunction with the PC and PS3 versions of the game.

Considering the large base of 360 users, and the excitement generated by Square’s announcement that Final Fantasy XIII was coming to Microsoft’s console, we’re guessing that the FFXIV team will figure out a solution to their Xbox Live woes an ensure the eventual release of a 360 version of the game.

Following the announcement of Final Fantasy XIV Online at Sony’s E3 conference earlier today, here are some further details and a nice new trailer for you. Set in the “vast realm” of Eorzea, FFXIV is being produced by the man behind FF’s I, II, III and XI, Hiromichi Tanaka, alongside a crack Squenix team with a whole bunch of previous FF titles under their belts.

In the trailer above you’ll see some nice, sweeping vistas of Eorzea, some crazy-nuts enemies that only the Japanese could dream up and a Chocobo, all soundtracked by a big ol’ grandiose score courtesy of Final Fantasy stalwart, Nobuo Uematsu.

The second attempt to bring the venerable Final Fantasy series to the MMORPG realm – following FFXI – Final Fantasy XIV Online is scheduled for simultaneous global release on PlayStation 3 and PC next year.

Directly after showing us more footage of FInal Fantasy XIII and before we all started to fall asleep, Sony came in and announced that Square Enix was working on another title that would be a PS3 exclusive. That title being FInal Fantasy XIV. That’s a lot of roman numerals. They rolled the trailer showing the game that is set to release sometime in 2010. At the end of the trailer the title came up showing FInal Fantasy XIV Online which suggested to us that this is Square Enix’s new MMORPG even though Sony didn’t explicitly say so during the presentation.