Final Fantasy XIV PC release: 30th September

Square Enix Limited, the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, announced today that the highly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game FINAL FANTASY® XIV is set for global release on 30 September 2010 for Windows PC, with the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system version releasing in early March 2011.

In advance of the September 30release, FINAL FANTASY XIV PC Collector’s Edition, which is available in Europe from 22 September, will offer early access to adventurers eager to embark on this new chapter in the FINAL FANTASY series by granting access to the realm of Eorzea. Furthermore, the Beta phase for the Windows version will begin in early July 2010.

FINAL FANTASY XIV PC Collector’s Edition includes:

EARLY ACCESS – Play a few days prior to the release of the PC Standard Edition
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 used in addition to your regular password
ADVENTURERS BRANDED TUMBLER – Carry a small piece of Eorzea around with you with this branded tumbler
MAP OF EORZEA – A detailed map showing the key areas of Eorzea, essential for the committed traveller
TRAVEL JOURNAL – Record your travels in this journal filled with pages of never-before-seen concept art
FREE GAMEPLAY– 30-day free gameplay
GUEST PASS – Invite a friend to play free for a limited time
GAME DISC
GAME MANUAL

“This September, players around the world will join together to explore the fascinating and exciting realm of Eorzea,” said Hiromichi Tanaka, Executive Producer of FINAL FANTASY XIV. “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.”

For additional information, visit http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com.

FINAL FANTASY XIV will become available for pre-order at certain retailers from today.

FINAL FANTASY XIV PC Collector’s Edition pre-orders will include the Onion Helm, an exclusive in-game item that accelerates character recovery after falling in battle. FINAL FANTASY XIV PC Standard Edition pre-orders will include a pair of Garlond Goggles, an exclusive in-game item that increases the speed of skill progression.

For those who had registered their FINAL FANTASY XIII Campaign Codes, it will be possible to apply this code to the Windows PC version of FINAL FANTASY XIV. The users will receive a pair of Asuran Armguards, an exclusive in-game item that will enhance the effectiveness of the player’s equipped arm or tool.

Please note, once you register your reward code to your Square Enix account, all new characters that you create from then on will receive the in-game item. Characters created before you link the reward code to your Square Enix account, however, will not receive the item.

All new FINAL FANTASY XIV game packages come with a 30 day free gameplay period. Players will receive a discount to their initial service fees in the form of a complimentary, all-access pass to the new realm of Eorzea. Following this free gameplay, the regular 30-day subscription fee will be €12.99 (UK £8.99). Each additional character will be €3.00 (UK £2.10) per month with a maximum of eight characters per account. For each account, one retainer (a non-playable character that will maintain item sales within the game as well as provide item storage while the user is logged out of the game) will be free of charge with each additional retainer being €1.00 per month (UK £0.70).

The FINAL FANTASY XIV PlayStation 3 version will be available early March 2011 with the pricing announced at a later time.