Update 1: We’ve update our gallery with 88 more images from the Japanese beta. Images courtesy of BlueGartr.

As of 5am CST, the Final Fantasy XIV beta has begun. As this test was the Japanese test, no information has been translated yet. Luckily screenshots do not need translation, so check out the screenshots leaked by Japanese testers in our gallery. The EU testing begins at 1:00pm CST, and the North American testing will follow at 8:00pm CST. We can expect some English images to make their way out of those 2 testing phases.

Outside of Japan, 2 pieces of information have leaked their way from the official FFXIV forums. First we have a list of the changes from the alpha to the beta client that testers can expect.

• Retainers have been added to carry items for you and operate a bazaar. It sounds like you will have to pay in-game currency to use them (it is free in beta).
• A new system called “Behest” has been added. NPCs will request your assistance for hunting down monsters that are terrorizing that zone. (Sounds like how you’ll hunt NMs?)
• Classes added: Botanist, Carpenter, Weaver, and Leatherworker.
• Attribute points can now be reallocated.
• You have a separate set of points to assign to elemental resistances.
• Switching gear in combat results in the stats that item provides being halved for 30 seconds. (This means you’ll be able to switch classes in combat)
• Weapons, armor, and tools have a durability now and deteriorate over time. NPCs can repair items up to 50% of their max durability. Blacksmiths are required to fully repair an item.
• An in-game configuration menu has been added for various UI and limited graphics control.
• The map for Limsa Lominsa has been improved to show the different tiers (decks).
• There are other changes and improvements. Read the full post for more details.

Beyond the change notes, the director of FFXIV posted a note to testers talking about some of the larger changes in the beta test as well as items not yet available in beta.

• Levequests for Disciples of the Hand are currently disabled, these will be opened once the issues are resolved.
• There are still delays in navigation of menus, this will improve later in the beta.
• Party Search functionality has been introduced to allow seeking new members into an existing party or to advertise yourself looking for a party. Various conditions can be set for party searching (there will be more criteria available in later stages of testing).
• Features currently unavailable (to be added later): auto-translation of text and player macros.

We’ll be on the lookout for new information and post it as it becomes available.