[Cerulean Shaman]

Update 1: Gamespot Posts two articles on US release
Update 2: Official JP FFXIV Site has been updated, incoming image
Update 3: Added release date, new images, and image of the CE item: Onion Helmet
Update 4: Added image of some snappy spectacles and the FFXIII Promo Code item: Asuran Armbands
Update 5: Added image of preorder bonus and listed vendors currently selling FFXIV, feel free to pm me if you find any!
Update 6: Added two new articles, one from IGN
Update 7: Added contents of CE version and pricing.
Update 8: Added what is assumed to be recommended specs for Windows.
Update 9: Highlighted monthly subscription pricing and details on price for additional characters/retainers
Update 10: Translation of some of the Japanese information is up, click here.
Update 11: Added official press release, click here to go to it.
Update 12: NA Site updated!

Translation by Savalithos is up, click here to go to it.
Official press release is up, click here to go to it.

Our IRC channel and the FFXIV community in general is abuzz with a recent twitter posting from http://www.square-enix-press.com/ . Quoted from the twitter update is this exact message:

Quote

FINAL FANTASY XIV FOR PC CONFIRMED FOR 30th SEPTEMBER 2010 RELEASE

Twitter Source: http://twitter.com/S...tus/17424389727

Preorder Vendors:

Amazon.com: Standard | CE Edition
Gamestop.com: Standard | CE Edition



NA Site Updated!

Collector's Edition Pre-order



Standard Preorder Bonus



Beta System Specs





Apparently the Collector's Edition is to be released on September 22, 2010, while the standard edition will see release on September 30th, 2010. The PS3 version will be launched sometime in March, 2011.

Quote

Final Fantasy fanatics willing to pay $25 will be able to access the game eight days ahead of the masses, courtesy of the early access codes included in the $75 collector's edition of the game. (Square Enix did add the caveat that "timing of access subject to initial server capacity.") Besides the game disc and manual, included will be the following cache of goodies:

• A behind the scenes DVD with the obligatory documentary on the making of the game.
  
• A travel journal with concept art pages in which players can document their in-game wanderings.
  
• An in-game item called the "Onion Helm."
  
• A fully personalized "Right of Passage" certificate.
  
• Special cover illustrated by artist Yoshitaka Amano.
  
• A FFXIV-branded security token for use with regular password.

Missing from our version of the CE is the tumbler and music CD, sadly. The regular edition will be priced at $50.00 USD.

Subscription Pricing Information

Quote

• The monthly subscription fee will be £8.99 ($12.99) with additional characters available for £2.10 ($3.00) a month. A maximum of eight characters can be registered on any one account.
• Each account is eligible for one free retainer (a non-playable character that maintains item sales and storage when users are logged out) with each additional retainer costing £0.70 ($1.00).

Recommended Specs (?)

Quote

Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz or AMD Athlon X2 2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 15GB HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 512MB or ATI Radeon HD 2900 512MB and DirectX 9

(View high quality image of the CE box here.)



Collector's Edition Exclusive Item: Onion Helmet

Preorder Bonus: Garlond Goggles

FFXIII Promo Code Item: Asuran Armbands
Card Slip Image: http://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/ffxiii/
Articles:

http://www.gamespot....=result;title;0
http://www.gamespot....=result;title;0
http://www.computera...e.php?id=253984
http://pc.ign.com/ar.../1102931p1.html



Official Press Release

Spoiler FINAL FANTASY XIV FOR WINDOWS PC CONFIRMED FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 RELEASEFINAL FANTASY XIV PC Collector’s Edition to Offer Early Access to the Realm of Eorzea
LOS ANGELES (June 30, 2010) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game FINAL FANTASY® XIV is set for global release on September 30, 2010 for Windows PC.

In advance of the September 30 release, FINAL FANTASY XIV PC Collector’s Edition will offer early access to adventurers eager to embark on this new chapter in the FINAL FANTASY series. In addition, the Beta phase for the Windows PC version will begin in early July 2010.
Title

FINAL FANTASY XIV

FINAL FANTASY XIV

Collector’s Edition

Platform

PC

Street Date

September 30, 2010

September 22, 2010

Price

$49.99 SRP

$74.99 SRP

Subscription

$12.99/30 days

Languages

English, French, German, Japanese

Genre

MMORPG

Contents

Standard Edition preorders will include a reward code to receive an exclusive in-game item, the Garlond Goggles.*

FREE GAMEPLAY – Free gameplay for 30 days.

GAME DISC

GAME MANUAL

IN-GAME ITEM – Collector’s Edition preorders will include a reward code to receive an exclusive in-game item, the Onion Helm.*

EARLY ACCESS – Play 8 days prior to the release of the Windows PC Standard Edition (timing of access subject to initial server capacity).

BEHIND-THE-SCENES DVD – Get an insider look at the making of FINAL FANTASY XIV, with exclusive video content, interviews and more in this special documentary DVD.

SECURITY TOKEN – A FINAL FANTASY XIV–branded Security Token for use with your regular password.

TRAVEL JOURNAL – Record your travels in this beautifully bound journal filled with pages of never-before-seen concept art.

RIGHT OF PASSAGE – Redeem a voucher to receive your fully-personalized Right of Passage Certificate, each stamped with a unique serial number.

AMANO COVER – Special PC Collector’s Edition illustration by renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano.

FREE GAMEPLAY – Free gameplay for 30 days.

GAME DISC

GAME MANUAL

ESRB

Teen

Copyright

© 2010 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All rights reserved.

Official Site

http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/




Translation by Savalithos

Quote

Windows:

Final Fantasy XIV Collectors’ Edition
Release Date: September 22nd, 2010

Special In-Game Item: Onion Helm (reduced penalty upon death)
This special edition also includes:
-Priority Log-in a week before official start of service.
-A specially designed package featuring the art of Yoshitaka Amano and Akihiko Yoshida.
-FFXIV original tumbler
-FFXIV DVD “Eorzea: The Making of a Realm”
-Hard-cover art case to protect your game and DVD.
-A specially designed FFXIV security token.

Final Fantasy XIV (regular edition)
Release Date: September 30th, 2010

Special In-Game Item: Garlond Goggles (faster skill growth)
Characters created after redemption of the Item Code (included in the first shipment of the game) will all receive this special in-game item from the start.

Monthly Fee: 1280 yen (approx. $13-$14)/30 days (1344 w/ tax)
(first character free for 30 days upon activation)

Retainers: First one is free with each additional one costing 100 yen (105 w/ tax). Additional player characters cost 300 yen (315 w/ tax) apiece every 30 days. Maximum of 8 characters.

Fees are payable by both Crysta currency and credit card.

Each Square Enix account may have up to 8 service accounts.

FFXIII Secret Code Item
Asura Armguards: Increased Weapon and Tool affinity.
http://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/ffxiii/

Supported Languages: Japanese, English, German, French (service starts simultaneously)

*PS3 version is scheduled for release sometime during the beginning of March, 2011.

Article for the update, courtesy of Ash the Stampede:

Quote

PC version hitting European shelves on September 22nd; PS3 SKU arriving March 2011

• Square Enix has announced that the PC Collector’s Edition version of MMO Final Fantasy XIV will be released in Europe on September 22nd. The standard SKU will hit retail on September 30th.
• The PS3 version of the game will not be released until March 2011, with pricing to be announced at a later date.
• The PC Collector’s Edition includes a behind-the-scenes DVD, a special branded security token, a FFXIV branded tumbler, map, a travel journal including concept art, the Onion Helm in-game item, a 30-day free trial period for the game and a pass that allows a guest to play for free for a limited time.
• The monthly subscription fee will be £8.99 (€12.99) with additional characters available for £2.10 (€3.00) a month. A maximum of eight characters can be registered on any one account.
• Each account is eligible for one free retainer (a non-playable character that maintains item sales and storage when users are logged out) with each additional retainer costing £0.70 (€1.00).
• A beta version of the PC game will go live some time in early July. It will become available to pre-order with key retailers at some point today. Those who pre-order will receive another in-game freebie – a pair of Garlond Goggles that increases the speed at which characters progress.
• Those who register their FFXIII Campaign Codes will receive the Asuran Armguards DLC, an extra that improves the effectiveness of tools.
• “This September, players around the world will join together to explore the fascinating and exciting realm of Eorzea,” the game’s executive producer Hiromichi Tanaka stated.
• “We’re presenting players with a new style of online gameplay, that we know will please avid fans of online games, but welcome more casual gamers as well with the variety of gameplay and story-driven content.”
• The specs for the PC version are as follows: Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz or AMD Athlon X2 2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 15GB HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 512MB or ATI Radeon HD 2900 512MB and DirectX 9.

This post has been edited by Draconix: 30 June 2010 - 05:41 PM

[Ash the Stampede]

PC version hitting European shelves on September 22nd; PS3 SKU arriving March 2011

Square Enix has announced that the PC Collector’s Edition version of MMO Final Fantasy XIV will be released in Europe on September 22nd. The standard SKU will hit retail on September 30th.
The PS3 version of the game will not be released until March 2011, with pricing to be announced at a later date.
The PC Collector’s Edition includes a behind-the-scenes DVD, a special branded security token, a FFXIV branded tumbler, map, a travel journal including concept art, the Onion Helm in-game item, a 30-day free trial period for the game and a pass that allows a guest to play for free for a limited time.
The monthly subscription fee will be £8.99 (€12.99) with additional characters available for £2.10 (€3.00) a month. A maximum of eight characters can be registered on any one account.
Each account is eligible for one free retainer (a non-playable character that maintains item sales and storage when users are logged out) with each additional retainer costing £0.70 (€1.00).
A beta version of the PC game will go live some time in early July. It will become available to pre-order with key retailers at some point today. Those who pre-order will receive another in-game freebie – a pair of Garlond Goggles that increases the speed at which characters progress.
Those who register their FFXIII Campaign Codes will receive the Asuran Armguards DLC, an extra that improves the effectiveness of tools.
“This September, players around the world will join together to explore the fascinating and exciting realm of Eorzea,” the game’s executive producer Hiromichi Tanaka stated.
“We’re presenting players with a new style of online gameplay, that we know will please avid fans of online games, but welcome more casual gamers as well with the variety of gameplay and story-driven content.”
The specs for the PC version are as follows: Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz or AMD Athlon X2 2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 15GB HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 512MB or ATI Radeon HD 2900 512MB and DirectX 9.

[SelbyNY]

I know amazon makes up release dates sometimes but

http://www.amazon.co...77915757&sr=1-2

The 2 dates are kind of close

[mrxennon]

The specs are not that bad, they wont break the bank.

[NSmasta]

O_O ... gotta be fake, beta just started, and they'll definitely need more time than that to finalize the game and make the servers ready, as well as all the editing and processing of the game copies, delivery over seas and... ah no, fake!

that or it'll just be the best birthday present ever (it's on my exact birthday :) ) woow... it's a sign people, A SIIIIIGNNNNNNNNNNN

This post has been edited by NSmasta: 30 June 2010 - 10:44 AM

[Hologue]

I could easily see it happening. And I'm glad. Square will probably get like 75% of the content good and ready to go by that time and then release it, then while everyone is leveling up they'll probably fill in the gaps.

The game will probably be wonky, but they'll get it fixed. As long as I can get my hands on it I won't complain!

I doubt they'll be stupid enough to release it even if it's not completely ready, though, so I'm not worried about anything like that.

[Dawiichan]

Ash the Stampede, on 30 June 2010 - 10:36 AM, said:

Those who pre-order will receive another in-game freebie – a pair of Garlond Goggles that increases the speed at which characters progress.

Fail much? :/

[Brian]

If this is legit then this is excellent news. Hopefully I'll have my new computer by then. :)

[Cruorem]

hope they were joking about the PS3 release..

;_;

Although looking at those specs, my pc 'should' handle it, just. But if the benchmark is anything to go by i'm screwed till March

[Corolie]

Goes to www.square-enix-press.com hmmmm..... I think someone is trying to troll us and get us hyped up for a false release date. lol well for you pc players that is.... xD

[Kitkun]

Wouldn't this go against what TANAKA said? july beta sept release that is 3 mnths if that of beta far less then what he wanted. I think someone jumped the gun as the official site as not released yet any of this info. From my experience it would be there first. Also consider the fact SE has said time after time. PS3 and PC will have a world wide release. Wasn't it a ps3 only game? I saw it 2009 E3 coverage after FF13 trailer. It sounds fishy that there is a lot of press about it, when the official site never said jack.

[Khashiel]

**** SE and their release date for PS3, i spent 350€ last sunday to get a PS3 mainly for FFXIV and now this...

Yeah, I'm in rage mode.

[Mooga]

Hmm these are my points:

- The twitter as like 40 followers.
- The host doesnt have traffic to keep all the people.
- It's not hosted on SE.
- They talk about "Europe" (because like everybody here on europe know, NA always gets the stuff first and this being mention as in "EUROPE", is a joke for me)
- Collectors Edition already?! Where the heck he got all the info like MCV UK?! Even wierder.

.......

Posiblities this is happening:

1 - Someone got fired from SE as revenge hetold everybody the goodies.
2 - It's a Joke.

But like CS said, lets wait and see if its official.

This post has been edited by Mooga: 30 June 2010 - 10:45 AM

[Eabaud]

ps3 until march
what D:!?

[LeePatekar]

I hope they have a downloadable version. Otherwise I'll have to hold up the local EB Games to make sure I have a copy on launch day!

[Evsauce13]

I hope the ps3 release isn't that far away and I don't see why it would be...but I am going to say fake information.

[bear40777]

Wait wait wait....

#1, I doubt its true. Thats a hella early release date for a game whos beta hasnt launched(to my knowledge).

And a seperate release date for ps3? that just hurts alot of people.

[LeePatekar]

A separate release date for PS3 isn't so far fetched considering they are working on the PC version first, and will need to optimize it to run on a PS3 afterwords. We'll see what happens though.

[Blase]

So on the What's new section of the official JP final fantasy site, if you translate the top part (i used Google translator) it says release date announced.

Final Fantasy XIV and fees in addition to the release date was announced as a package and the Limited Edition Collector!
You can view the contents of the benefits that come with Limited Edition and Collector!

http://jp.finalfantasyxiv.com/#/news

[shojikun]

this has to be a joke pls let it be a joke.