It's alive!
Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is on-schedule to release during Summer 2013. Additionally, development of the PS3 version has gone well enough that the planned simultaneous release of it alongside the PC version is set in stone.
FFXIV: ARR entered closed beta in February and finished its second testing cycle last weekend. The third beta phase, which will be the first to introduce PS3 players to the game, is planned to begin in early June. The third phase is expected to last around 2-3 weeks with an open beta following for an additional week. Consequently, the game will likely come out in late July or early August, with the former being more plausible.
The game's newly appointed director, Naoki Yoshida, has emphasized that the future of Square Enix depends on FFXIV's relaunch success. The game has costed the company a wealth of resources and previously damaged the company and IP's reputation. It goes without saying that the month following FFXI: ARR's release will be an important time for Square Enix and Final Fantasy fans alike.
You can read our impressions of the FFXIV: ARR closed beta in our preview article.
