In a recent turn of events that left many fans bewildered, Xbox mistakenly announced the launch of the open beta for “Final Fantasy XIV Online” on Xbox Series X/S. This error, which was quickly corrected, highlights the anticipation and excitement surrounding the game’s expansion to Xbox platforms.
On a Tuesday morning, Xbox Wire, Xbox’s official news site, posted an announcement that the open beta for “Final Fantasy XIV Online” was available on Xbox Series X/S. This news, however, turned out to be premature and was retracted about an hour later. The Xbox Wire team took to Twitter to clarify the situation, acknowledging the mistake and promising to follow up with the correct release date for the open beta when available.
This brief period was enough to stir confusion and speculation among the game’s fanbase. Fans on gaming forums like resetera expressed their puzzlement, wondering if Xbox had inadvertently jumped the gun on the announcement, especially since no direct store link was provided and the beta was not appearing on their consoles.
Details on the Open Beta and Final Fantasy XIV’s Journey to Xbox
We incorrectly posted news this morning regarding the Final Fantasy XIV Online Open Beta. We'll follow-up with the correct date when available.
We apologize for any confusion -Xbox Wire Team
— Xbox Wire (@XboxWire) January 16, 2024
Despite the retraction, the initial Xbox Wire post did reveal some key information. The open beta is set to support 4K resolution on the Xbox Series X, and players on both Xbox Series X and S will have the ability to transfer their progress to the full release once it becomes available.
The journey of “Final Fantasy XIV” to Xbox consoles has been a long-anticipated one. Square Enix announced in July during the Final Fantasy Fan Fest that the game, which first launched in 2013 on PS3 and Windows, would finally be making its way to Xbox’s ninth-generation consoles. The game has since seen releases on PS4, MacOS, and PS5 in subsequent years, but the Xbox version has been notably absent until now.
Expanding the Final Fantasy XIV Universe
I’m just as confused as everyone right now lol
— Klobrille (@klobrille) January 16, 2024
“Final Fantasy XIV” has seen significant growth and evolution since its initial release. Square Enix has released four major expansions, with a fifth one, “Dawntrail,” currently in development and expected to release in Summer 2024. The “Endwalker” expansion, the most recent addition, has been critically acclaimed for bringing a satisfying close to the game’s longest story arc, cementing its status as one of the best stories in the Final Fantasy series.
The anticipation for the open beta of “Final Fantasy XIV Online” on Xbox Series X/S remains high. As fans eagerly await the corrected release date, the excitement underscores the game’s enduring popularity and the eagerness of the Xbox community to join the realm of Eorzea.
