Square Enix has announced (confirmed here) that Final Fantasy XIV will release on September 30, 2010 for the PC only. Those who purchase the collectors edition of the game will be granted early-access to begin playing on September 22, 2010. The PS3 version will not be available until March 2011.

Update 1: NA FFXIV Website has been updated to match the JP one. Check it out.
Update 2: Updated images from the North American website update. All images should be in English now. Also, the Standard and Collector editions of the game have different bonus items for pre-ordering.
Update 3: Square Enix has published the full press release covering this.
Update 4: Added a new concept art image relieved on the new website.
Update 5: To match Square Enix’s announcement, Blizzard has removed the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) on their WoW expansion (Cataclysm) that is currently in beta testing.
Update 6: Square Enix has posted some new FAQ entries on their JP site. The most interesting addition confirms that a base account will only have 1 character slot.
Update 7: Eorzeapedia has confirmed that the collectors edition only comes with the Onion Helm, while the standard edition only comes with the Garlond Goggles. This means the collectors editions does not have the goggles.
Update 8: The European FFXIV website has been updated to match the new NA and JP designs.

Standard Edition Details:

• Pre-order Standard Edition through Amazon.
• Will be able to start playing on September 30.
• Price: $50
• If you pre-order the Standard edition, you get a pair of Garlond Goggles that increases the speed of skill progression.
• PC only. (PS3 version will not be available until next year, estimated March 2011).

Collectors Edition Details:

• Pre-order Collectors Edition through Amazon.
• Will be able to start playing 8 days early (September 22).
• Price: $75 ($25 more than standard).
• If you pre-order the Collectors edition, you get an Onion Helm that quickens recovery from KO.
• There are a variety of other bonus items in the collectors edition.
  • A behind the scenes DVD with the obligatory documentary on the making of the game.
  • A travel journal with concept art pages in which players can document their in-game wanderings.
  • An in-game item called the “Onion Helm.”
  • A fully personalized “Right of Passage” certificate.
  • Special cover illustrated by artist Yoshitaka Amano.
  • A FFXIV-branded security token for use with regular password.
• PC only. (PS3 version will not be available until next year, estimated March 2011).

Monthly Pricing Details:

• Base Monthly Fee: $12.99 / £8.99 / €12.99 (includes 1 character slot and 1 retainer)
• Additional Character Slots: $3.00 / £2.10 / €3.00 per month. (8 slots max).
• Additional Retainers: $1.00 / £0.70 / €1.00 per month.

Final Fantasy XIII (13) Extra:
Those who pre-ordered FFXIII for their PS3 were given some promo-codes, which granted access to a special in-game item for FFXIV. The item is a pair of gloves, call Asuran Armguards, that can be equipped to “Enhances the effectiveness of your equipped arm or tool.” (source)

PS3 Delayed Until 2011:
Square Enix dropped a bomb on us today saying that the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIV will be delayed until 2011. Looks like they have contradicted a statement they made last year during E3 2009 (source):

Q: Will there be a simultaneous worldwide release?
A: Yes, at the launch it will be worldwide for PS3 and PC. Four languages – Japanese, English, German and French.

Other Information:

• Beta test will start in July. So we expect around two months of closed beta and one month of open beta.
• Retainers can be used to sell items or as storage (like a bank). You are granted 1 retainer by default, and additional ones can be purchased as part of your monthly game fee.
• PC Recommended Requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz or AMD Athlon X2 2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 15GB HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 512MB or ATI Radeon HD 2900 512MB and DirectX 9.

Third-Party Coverage

• The Japanese FFXIV website has received a complete overhaul to its layout. Check it out. Release details (Japanese) can be found here.
• Official Press Release about FFXIV Release Date.
• Gamespot has posted an article covering the details of the release.
• Monthly pricing for Europe covered here.
• IGN coverage

Gallery of images collected about the release: