Xbox users have waited a long time for the arrival of Final Fantasy XIV, but now the release of the acclaimed MMORPG on Microsoft’s console is at hand.
The Open Beta test of Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox Series S|X is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 at around 8:00 GMT. Square Enix has revealed today how to participate in the upcoming test, and the information includes some unfortunate news: the full game (not the Open Beta or the free trial) will require a Game Pass subscription to be played on Xbox. Having a Core tier subscription, which is equivalent to the old Xbox Live GOLD, will suffice.
However, it still means Final Fantasy XIV fans on Xbox would have to pay two monthly subscriptions, as the game itself is among the very few MMORPGs that still employ a subscription business model. Moreover, it stings even more knowing that the same doesn’t apply to PlayStation, where the PS Plus subscription is not required to play the game.
Square Enix is asking existing Final Fantasy XIV players to avoid participating in the Open Beta test. They will be able to link their Square Enix and Microsoft accounts, keeping their associated characters, with the full game release, which is scheduled shortly after the test:
We are planning to launch the Xbox Series X|S version immediately following the conclusion of the open beta test, the date of which will be determined after thorough reviews. FINAL FANTASY XIV game data will be transferred, and you will not need to redownload the game to play. The timing of the data transfer and official release for the Xbox Series X|S will be announced at a later date.
Final Fantasy XIV is getting a new expansion called Dawntrail later this Summer. As for Xbox, there’s quite a bit of turmoil caused by recent rumors of Microsoft shifting to a multiplatform strategy.
