FFXIV: ARR Upcoming Important Dates (not without speculation).

**Addendum: This is outdated, and the speculated dates have turned out to be incorrect. Please see this post for the the correct dates.**

Just watched the first episode of "XIV Reborn" at Gamebreaker - It will air every Tuesday, at 4PM PST, for those that are interested.

For the Gamebreaker fans that remember: this show is essentially the old, cancelled XIV show, relaunched for FFXIV:ARR 2.0 (minus Kenzie).

And for those who have never even visited Gamebreaker, let alone remember the old XIV show: it's just a fun show dedicated to all things FFXIV.

Mr. Happy was a guest host for the relaunch and, among other discussion topics, they tossed out a timeline for important FFXIV: ARR events.

Keep in mind that much of this is still speculation; though when compared with readily available information, it does seem to make sense.

They didn't provide much in the way of sources (not many people do when it comes to FFXIV: ARR, other than "Yoshi said..."), but I've tried to provide some actual sources that seem relevant.

• August 1: Character Creation Benchmark - (Source: Square Enix, and/or Yoshi-P during the NicoNico livestream -> Reddit translation)
• August 8: Next Live Letter - (Source: Square Enix, and/or Yoshi-P during the NicoNico livestream -> Reddit translation)
• August *9: Beta Phase 4 Begins - (Source: Deductive reasoning, moogle informants, and/or Yoshi-P during the NicoNico livestream -> Reddit translation)
• August *16: Beta Phase 4 Ends - (Source: Deductive reasoning, tonberry spies, and/or the schedule in the FFXIV: ARR 2.0 Beta Roadmap)
• August *17-19: Server Downtime - (Source: Deductive reasoning, cactuar tipsters, and/or Yoshi-P's comments during the E3 Letter from the Producer)
• August *20-26: Early Access - (Source: Deductive reasoning, chocobo whistle-blowers, a now changed advertisement from EB Games Australia, and/or Square Enix customer support rumors)
• August 27: Official Launch - (Source: Square Enix)

      * = denotes speculation, whether it's based on official information, or rumors.

There is a little bit of room for variation, but not much. The schedule seems fairly reasonable, given what we know.

At least, it seems more reasonable than some of the other unofficial schedules I've seen tossed around.

It'll be fun to see how accurate everyone's guesses are in the coming weeks.

...I hope they're all wrong and OBT4 suddenly starts after I click "Post Topic," 'cause Yoshi said! ;P

Thanks for the detail and sources, you rock :)

Gamebreaker has turned into the Fox News of gaming - anything they can sensationalize to get clicks they'll jump on like a fly to poo. Shame, too, cause in the early days they were actually entertaining. Surprises me they don't have a token woman for their XIV show (although I guess this was only episode 1).

I'm tired of waiting though - phase 4 needs to freakin start already.

"...anything they can sensationalize to get clicks they'll jump on..."

You just described most of the internet, and almost every type of consumable media, Aalwein. XD

I do agree that the site's content isn't as funny as it used to be, but regardless, "token woman" sounds so unnecessarily sexist in this context.

Why insult and invalidate the efforts of the women whom have worked, or still do work, at Gamebreaker (and by extension, any female who enjoys gaming)?

Are only men allowed to play, and commentate on video games and its industry? I don't agree with that notion if that's the underlying point of your post. that comment.

Please have a read through Connor's sticky here. Notably, section 4.

LOL, still hoping that the timing of DLing the beast of a client comes before the start date of the beta whatever day it really happens!  My internet connection is not horrible, but just doesn't want to run fast.  I think I have turtlenet for downloads - slow and steady wins the race!  HA!

I do agree that the site's content isn't as funny as it used to be, but regardless, "token woman" sounds so unnecessarily sexist in this context.

Why insult and invalidate the efforts of the women whom have worked, or still do work, at Gamebreaker (and by extension, any female who enjoys gaming)?

Are only men allowed to play, and commentate on video games and its industry? I don't agree with that notion if that's the underlying point of your post.

I really do not think that was the intention of Aalwein's post. If anything I took it as a stab at the lack of diversity in the gamecasting field or gaming journalism. I personally try not to find offense on forums or text messages, or text chat in games. It lacks a tone of voice and emphasis on words and sarcasm or other dry humor types can easily get misunderstood. So I personally try to assume a poster did not mean something to be offensive unless it was directed at someone.

Briseadh: Hopefully they make it available sooner rather than later Bri, as I'm sure there are many players who share your sentiment.

It's always nice to have the courtesy of an early download extended to the playerbase by the devs.

Sandolphan: After rereading it this morning, I have to say that I do agree with you, in that that was likely not the main point of Aalwein's entire post.

For that, I apologize to you Aalwein, and I have adjusted my reply to show the focus on the "token woman" remark.

Irrespective of that small change, the intention of my message should remain clear - Echoes is not a platform to undermine people based on gender, regardless of

whether or not it was intended as humor/wit (Some people consider hate speech funny, for example. We don't.). If the argument in defense is that tone

is hard to read in forum posts, and thus offensive comments can be later dismissed because "nah dude, it was just a joke," then perhaps tone should

be taken into consideration prior to posting, not after the fact. And I say that with the utmost respect to each and every one of you.

The posts we individually make as members (myself certainly included), reflect on the group as a whole (whether we realize it or not).

Please, try to be mindful of your fellow gamers here when posting, and respect the rules outlined in this sticky as a member of Echoes.

We are all here to have fun, and share in a friendly, positive gaming environment. ^_^

I wasn't being sexist - I was commenting on the fact that Gamebreaker likes to put women on their panels for the sake of getting a "gamer girl" not because they actually have a valid reason to be there. Half of their original women on the panels didn't even play the game they were reporting on. They just grabbed some random girl to pretend they are diverse. Not all of them mind you (like QuintLyn, she knows her shiz). You can read into the comment all you want but you'd be dead wrong about me. Hell I prefer to play games with gamer girls - especially mmogs where dudes usually just make it epeen contests.

The fact that'd you'd read THAT far into the comment actually makes me sad. Cause really anyone in this family would have that kind of attitude right? Really? /sigh My own wife plays games with me - I think it would be a little hard to have a sexist attitude towards games and women, but assumptions sure are easier than truths.

Anyway, my whole point is that I lament the monster that GBTV has turned into because it used to be so much more entertaining and was actually a useful source for hidden/exclusive information.

Woo I hope your guesses are accurate Gib. I get back from holidays on the 10th so it'd be nice to come home to a new key and a client download.... though if it's as big as the last one it will probably take me 4 hours to download and install lol. Suffice it to say I will be hanging with you all Saturday night before guild missinos and club XD

I can't take credit for that timeline, Soren - it was the one they tossed out during that Gamebreaker episode (and after some more research, I noticed Mr. Happy made his own vid about it some time ago).

I just tried to find some sources to help make sense of all the dates that are being tossed around lately. :D

Given what information we do have (and how little time SE has left to squeeze everything in before launch), there's a good chance that those dates above are very close to the real ones.

The roadmap does state that OBT4 could be 1-2 weeks though...and other rumors are pointing at a 3-5 day early access, instead of a full week. Hmm...

Hopefully we'll get the final schedule for everything straight from Yoshi-P in the next live letter.  Then everyone can start planning their time off accordingly, for some Eorzea fun!

Thank you for the update.