Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XI begins beta

Testing period for first 360 MMORPG begins, spots available to purchasers of Official Xbox Magazine.

Xbox 360 owners will soon get the opportunity to take a sneak peek at the world of Vana'diel, because the Final Fantasy XI beta testing period for Microsoft's new console has officially begun. Gamers can register for the beta now at Square Enix's PlayOnline Web site, which handles all subscriptions for Final Fantasy XI.

After applying, gamers will need to get their hands on the February issue of The Official Xbox Magazine and its demo disc, which includes the beta versions of the original game and both the Rise of the Zilart and Chains of Promathia expansion packs. The beta period will be free of charge to players, and the game can be logged onto using either a premium Gold or a fee-free Silver Xbox Live account.

When the game goes live in May, Xbox 360 players will be able to rub elbows and swap healing potions with their PlayStation 2 and PC counterparts. But for the duration of the beta test, Xbox 360 users will be kept on their own servers. They will be able to interact with beta testers from Europe and Japan, however. While Square Enix has issued a list of known issues with the beta game, support for USB keyboards and mice has been included.

Originally released in mid-2002 for the PlayStation 2 in Japan, Square Enix's massively multiplayer online role-playing game has since migrated to PCs, the American PS2, and perhaps, finally, the Xbox 360. Square Enix is promising enhanced visuals, audio, and other unique features for the game's debut on Microsoft's next-generation hardware.

Other versions of Final Fantasy XI have been rated T for Teen. The Xbox 360 edition is currently scheduled to hit stores in May. Stay tuned to GameSpot for more coverage.

61 Comments

  • natedood

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 10:56 pm PT

    I started installing this thing almost 2 hours ago.

    STILL NOT DONE.

    The interface thus far is frustrating and indeed takes forever. Why can't I enter my jillion character code in a web form instead of the clumsy on screen keyboard??!! Arrgghh! Even with that, you have to keep up with no less than 5 serial type numbers to whack your way through the install. You have to have a play online code, then you have to create a play online profile, then you get a play online id, then you set your profile name, then they ask you to login, then then then... rediculous - obviously not using any of the features of xbox live profile. I've had to put my login information in 6 different places so far - confusing. annoying. frustrating.

    I'll be aborting it after this message and reclaiming the 5GB of my 360 hard drive it soaks up with lame jazz background funk.

    No thank you.

  • Yazu13

    Posted Jan 9, 2006 4:41 am PT

    I think it's an outrage that Square Enix is making a game for Microsoft! They should stay with Sony only!

  • Nafda

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:27 pm PT

    Experience the excitment of waiting for hours for some lame party group in HD? No Thanks.

  • thyrabbit

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:21 pm PT

    this will cost money ... pc version cost 15 dollars/month... i don't want to pay that or anything at all for a ... what, 2 or 3 year old game! I think being able to play with all the PC and PS2 players is actually bad because they're ahead of the game and can be intimidating from my experience of this game on PC, but Square Enix had to do it because of lack of xbox 360s out there,... thanks a lot MS

  • king_kong27

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:15 pm PT

    assomme

  • DryvBy

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 6:06 pm PT

    Wow, I'm gonna go to the store and get that mess now!

  • coldfyre_99

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    They will get some good feedback from the 15 people that were actually able to get a 360.

  • Eternal15

    Posted Jan 8, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    Wait...I thought the PC version came out before the PS2 version...

  • deadman262

    Posted Jan 7, 2006 10:26 pm PT

    I seriously love all the people bashing FFXI...yet again. I for one, am really sick of people and their ooohing and awwing of WoW. I played it for almost 8 months and was bored as...well, you know. WoW is not a perfect match for everyone, and the 500,000+ people who continue to pay and play FFXI enjoy their time.

    So if you like WoW, good for you, but quit acting like it's the only game everyone should be playing.

  • secily

    Posted Jan 7, 2006 10:00 am PT

    WoW beta game for a old game,give me WoW anyday.

  • Calypsobreeze

    Posted Jan 7, 2006 7:03 am PT

    Don't hold your breath on this one. The Japanese beta version of FFXI is horrible on the Xbox360. At the high def resolution, you can't even read the fonts on the screen. Graphics are dated. And the registration process takes like 30 minutes with cutesy jazz music looping in the background-- trust me, you'll be hitting mute in the first 5 min as you struggle to register.

    IGN review of FFXI beta in Japan for reference.
    http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/674/674993p1.html

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 11:36 pm PT

    For those who wonder, no. This version won't be any better than the other versions. Well, it will be graphically superior to the ps2 version I'm sure, but don't expect some giant facelift just because its on the xbox 360. It should look similar to how it looks on a decent pc. Personally I think MS is letting Squenix release FFXI on the 360 just to get in their good graces in the hopes that some of their 1st run big name titles might get developed for the 360 in time.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 11:32 pm PT

    You will have to pay a monthly fee for FFXI once it releases, but you only have to have an xbox live silver account to play it. Gold isn't required. Most people who would monopolize their time with an MMO probably wouldnt have time to use that gold subscription on other games anyway :-P

  • HM117

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 3:06 pm PT

    IT"LL*

  • HM117

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 3:05 pm PT

    A soon as my XBOX360 will ship in, i'll be on my list.

  • madltu2005

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    I know the U.K. will get there Issues on Monday? When will we have ours in the USA?

  • omarguy01

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 12:15 pm PT

    maybe more people will play it now?

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 12:00 pm PT

    Great a 4 year old mmo for the system-cant wait!

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 10:34 am PT

    Finally, a chance to play FFXI. I'm really unsure about MMO's, I'm hoping this will be better then the others I've played.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 9:58 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • Ontario21

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 8:13 am PT

    This is just the kind of game to make me put down my PS2 and pick up a 360. I play FFXI on my PS2 and would love to Play it in HD!

  • bwgamer

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 7:28 am PT

    I was a beta tester for the PS2 version and now I'm looking forward to doing it again in HD!!! Anyone who hasn't played this game should take this opportunity. Fun Game!!! See ya'll online. My screen name was Weaver, hopefully it's still there, lol.

  • Princecake

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 6:39 am PT

    shrugg... so?

    I'm already playing it on my pc

    I'd be more interested if they were to release the frontmission online ...

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 6:03 am PT

    FINALLY!! FINAL FANTASY ON XBOX!!
    AND THE ANGELS ON HIGH SAW THAT THIS WAS GOOD!!

  • spr4yp4int

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 5:07 am PT

    Wow, FF Online!!!!!!ONEONE!!!!ONE
    Really, it's not that good. There is a reason it is possible to get it+expansions for 16$ where I live.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 5:05 am PT

    final fantasy has never been....well.....FINALly over!

  • blackdamage

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 3:17 am PT

    OXM in Italy too? UK would be ok. With no paying fees, and Xbox Live Silver, I may be tempted to try this one out.

  • BL1NDS1DE

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 3:05 am PT

    What is the date the new OXM will be on sale?

  • OPOLO

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 2:38 am PT

    Well this is one more reason for my PS2 to collect DUST

  • Maeros4

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 1:56 am PT

    is this for the us market only or will it be available for europe to?

  • rexoverbey

    Posted Jan 6, 2006 1:08 am PT

    I'm not big on FF but a free beta game on a console is awesome. I hope that other devlopers take suite and follow. Could you imagine if we got to beta test games like GOW or Halo 3? Man ever console in history would be owned by that.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 11:59 pm PT

    Hoping... Hoping... that I can get in... Long chance

  • mikekare79

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 10:47 pm PT

    Oh yea.

  • choasgod

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 10:35 pm PT

    .... FFXI is old, why are people amazed that they can finaly play the game on thier xbox 360 becuase they don't want to buy the Pc or PS2 versions ...

  • rctyke

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 10:12 pm PT

    here what bugs me about this 360 port of FF11 that was a Playstation 2 game and yet, people are cheering for something primitive on a high tech gaming machine like the 360. i have an Xbox 360 and am having a blast with Kameo and perfect dark zero and i don't mean to fret and i know they said it will improve, but when i heard you can play PS2 PLAYERS, that gave me the message, this is just a straight port to an old PS2 game. Now WoW, i would want see on the Xbox 360. we'll see if it changes and see if it runs on it's hardware soon

  • Davideogamer

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    I'm so gonna order the beta. Now I'm especially glad I have a 360.

  • helluvagood

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 9:22 pm PT

    sweet

  • Jared_Vegeta

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 8:30 pm PT

    Yeah, I agree, Cpt., cause with WoW, you could devote as much or as little time as you want. But wouldn't it be sweet if they really did decide to release a WoW for the 360 and have its servers linked to the PC versions (if thats even possible)?

  • ZugZug4

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 8:25 pm PT

    I'd rather have Lineage 2 . . but this will do. ^_^

  • CaptainCrazy

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 8:12 pm PT

    I owend this game for PC like 2 years go and had my share of fun and frustration with it. Only reason Square is bringing it to 360 is to try and replenish the dwindling population. Gil selling has ruined the economy and this game is super hardcore. No average console gamer is going to have a hope in hell. They will become so frustrated with the party system and the extreme investment of time involved. I really don't know why they need to make these kinds of games so inaccessible. WOW is the only one that does it right.

  • Jimbokundesu

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    and will it come with a Hard Drive when it's released?

  • Jimbokundesu

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:46 pm PT

    So what if you're already on FFXI on the PS2? Do I get to transfer my account there, or do I have to get my Vana'diel fix on my ps2 for the rest of my time there?

  • dacounciler171

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:27 pm PT

    When the full version comes out are you gonna have to pay monthly as well for this product or will just your xbox live account be sufficent?

  • AssRhino

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:12 pm PT

    Just signed up for the beta and will pick the disc up the day it comes out =)

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    Well at least the Xbox doesn't have to worry about the whole detachable hard drive thing.

  • Jorge_Cav

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:09 pm PT

    So the game was first made for the pc and then for the ps2 and now xbox360 but why did it takes so long, the only reason I think it would be great is beacouse of xbox live.

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:02 pm PT

    i wish i had a X360 =(

  • prvtTucker

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 7:00 pm PT

    well I have OXM but...I don"t have a 360 *weep's softly*

  • petegrrrr

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    Wow! Thank goodness this cutting edge, brand new game finally made it to the 360! /sarcasm....

    Just think, at this rate we'll get "PONG" sometime in 2008.

  • sushi_111

    Posted Jan 5, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    this better b better than the other versions

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