Microsoft erroneously announces Final Fantasy XIV’s Xbox Open beta was available early
Microsoft has briefly announced then retracted that Final Fantasy XIV’s Xbox Open Beta was now available
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What you need to know
On January 16, 2024, Microsoft made a startling announcement on Xbox Wire that the Open Beta test for theupcoming Xbox versionofFinal Fantasy XIVis now available. However, Microsoft then immediately took it down because the announcement was completely incorrect, as Square Enix stated during theFinal Fantasy XIV 2024 Fan Festival in Japan, that theXbox Open Beta would be estimated to launch in February 2024.
Microsoft has apologized for the incorrect announcement on Xbox Wire’s social media and will follow up with the correct date for Final Fantasy XIV’s Xbox Open Beta at a later date when it’s available.
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 TeamJanuary 16, 2024
So what exactly did this article incorrectly say that caused Microsoft to delete it? For starters, nowhere in the article does it tell players how to access the Xbox Open Beta, and when it was up, nobody could find it on theXboxStore or theXbox InsiderApp.
Not to mention, Square Enix’s official website for Final Fantasy XIV, Lodestone, did not make any announcements that the Xbox Open Beta is available.
All information this article gave was that Final Fantasy XIV is a popular entry in the Final Fantasy series and a beloved MMORPG with over 30 million players. It also gave a link to their FFXIV beginner’s tips YouTube video series and stated the Xbox Open Beta would include all the content of Final Fantasy XIV’s Free Trial which includes all gameplay content up until Final Fantasy XIV’s Stormblood expansion.
In addition, all the progress they would make in the beta would carry over to when the fullXbox Series XandXbox Series Sversions of Final Fantasy XIV eventually release.
Confusing Patch 6.55 with Xbox Open Beta?
You might be thinking, “What has caused Microsoft to make such an incorrect announcement?” Personally speaking, I’m going to guess that somebody at Microsoft mistakenly assumed that the Xbox Open Beta would be released today alongside Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker’s last major update, Patch 6.55, without seeing or forgetting about Square Enix’s aforementioned announcement. Perhaps they incorrectly selected the month, and that we’ll get the announcement on February 16th, instead of January 16th? Perhaps it was originally slated for January 16th, it’s hard to know for sure.
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Mistakes happen, though.Microsoft and Square Enix have developed a blossoming relationship recently, with the latter confirming greater support for upcoming Square Enix titles, including Visions of Mana,Final Fantasy XVI, and of course, Final Fantasy XIV and itsupcoming expansion for PCand Xbox,Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.
Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander’s expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry’s most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!
