There’s been a great response to the beta sign-ups for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn for phase three – and rightly so, because it’s really looking awesome now.

But we’ve noticed that there’s been a bunch of questions from users on the game’s product page, so we thought we’d put as many of them as possible to the FFXIV team. The most common ones are answered here, but feel free to add your own if you have any issues.

Alternatively, you can find dedicated help on the official support page.

When are the beta tests available?

The beta tests run across selected weekends only; the next one is this weekend (9am June 21-9am June 23 GMT).

Last time I had trouble logging in…

We had a number of congestion issues during the beta due to high volumes of traffic. This made it difficult for players to register, get onto the forums and access the beta. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope that the next beta session (this weekend) goes a lot smoother. For those that did get in, we hope you had fun!

I’m in Australia – is Square Enix sending out beta invites based on region?

Yes. We’ve divided the codes into NA/JP/EU and Australia would fall under EU (PAL). Players that registered via the EU site should receive an EU code. Even though we divided the codes by region, everyone from all over the world will be able to play together.

My code doesn’t seem to work; the digit format is 4-4-4-4-2.

It seems like your code is missing 2 digits. All beta registration codes have the format 4-4-4-4-4. For PS3 users there's then a 4-4-4 code, which is used to download the client from the PlayStation Store.

I pre-ordered the game; why can't I play in the beta?

Pre-orders are separate from beta test participation. The early access you get for pre-orders will be just before the official release; if you wish to participate in the beta tests, please apply here.

I received the email from Square Enix with the beta code, but I don't have a "one-time password" because I never played online. What should I do?

You should be able to participate in the Beta without a one-time password. Try logging in with your Square Enix ID and password that you set up at the next beta weekend.

I've got a beta key, but what do I have to do to register?

Links to instructions on how to register your code are provided with the beta code email. In the instructions it states that you will need to create a Square Enix Account as this will be the login details to access the beta forums (where you download the PC client) and to access the actual game.

I tried to access the beta but I can't enter the code for Square Enix Members – what do I do?

The Square Enix Account is different from the Square Enix Members account. A Square Enix Account is needed to access our MMO games like Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV - and in this case the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Beta.

Please register a Square Enix Account during the beta setup process if you don't have one already.  

How do I get into the beta if I'm already a Legacy Member? I have the beta invite but I can't seem to port over my character.

At present you can't port over your Legacy character data. This feature will be coming soon and details will be announced on the Lodestone at a later time. If you have the invite with the code already, please follow the steps in the email carefully to play the beta.

When I try to log in in the beta forums I get a message saying: "You could not log in because that service account has been cancelled." My service is marked as active in my profile, and I was a version 1.0 player – what happened?

We had a technical error when we initially delivered the keys to the V1.0 players last week, so we resent those keys. Unless a Square Enix Account has been banned, all 1.0 players should have received a key over the weekend. For good measure, you may also want to check that your email address in your Square Enix Account is up-to-date in case it was sent to the wrong address, or check your junk/spam filters.

I bought version 1.0, so can I automatically play in the beta, or do I still need a code to play?

We sent out codes to all of the 1.0 players via email – you will need this code to access the beta. Please check your email inbox (and junk in case it ended up there).

I couldn't find the US as a specified country to sign up for, so I went to the next English-speaking country - but now I'm worried about whether I will be able to access the beta, as my PlayStation 3 is coded for the US.

The North American Beta registration site is here. 

Please be careful with the region application site that you enter as EU codes won’t work on North America-registered Square Enix IDs.

So E3 has swiftly come and gone again, and we can say, without a doubt, that this was the most exciting show for some time. Not just because of the battle of the next-gen consoles, but because of the sheer mouth-watering quality of the games that were announced.

Action games took centre stage, and no doubt you’ll have seen some of the trailers for games like Titanfall and MGS V (running at 60FPS), while one announcement that’s turning a few heads here in the office is InFamous: Second Son. 

But for us, for obvious reasons, the highlight was really Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV! So far the fan feedback has been tremendous, to say the least. Watching the internet explode with excitement was a genuine highlight for everyone at Square Enix involved in these announcements.

Our most noticeable success at the show was our supernatural crime thriller, Murdered: Soul Suspect, which received 16 E3 Award nominations and 6 wins, in addition to high praise for its unique concept. And there also were nominations or awards for Thief, Deus Ex: The Fall – and of course Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn!

So what are your thoughts on this year’s E3? Were your expectations exceeded? It’s clear that there were winners and losers, but it’s important to keep an open mind, as anything can happen between now and launch.

• What was your favourite game announced at this year’s E3?
• What is your console of choice, and will you be buying it on day one?

As always, share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments box below – but remember, please keep it polite!

We think the hard work from long-time Tomb Raider fans, Artur Walczak and Marcin Pospiech, deserves to be shown-off, and you can check out video below for more on this outstanding piece of fan-made art.

For those unaware of the project, the idea was very simple: to link two passions, music and computer games. Artur and Marcin aimed to create a unique musical instrument that was a tribute to the timeless Gibson SG design, and also a timeless video game - Tomb Raider.

It's never nice to have to deliver this news, but here's a statement we released today regarding some changes we're making at IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman: Absolution.

"We are making significant changes at IO Interactive as we align our business against a changing and challenging market. Hannes Seifert, formerly Production Director for 3 years at the studio, will take over the position of Studio Head at IO. The studio will focus resolutely on the future vision for the Hitman franchise and is in pre-production on a new AAA Hitman project. However we have taken the difficult decision to cancel other studio projects and initiatives at IO and reduce the workforce in this studio, which will impact almost half of the employees currently at IO, as we make internal adjustments to face the challenges of today’s market.

"For those affected, we are extremely grateful for the hard work which they have contributed, and where it’s possible and appropriate to relocate staff to open positions at other studios within the group, we will try to do so. We are also reaching out to other companies for outplacement opportunities. We sincerely wish them well in their future careers.

"Meanwhile, if you are part of a company that is looking for additional development talent, please contact us directly at info@ioi.dk"

As you may have heard, our beloved Ben Bateman has moved on to pastures new - and Ben if you’re reading this, we miss you already. My role here at Square Enix is to work closely with Phil and the growing Community Team to bring you regular updates, exclusive content, competitions, and hopefully provide answers your some of your questions. With any luck I can continue to keep things fresh and exciting.

I’m a huge fan of Square Enix games. I’ve been playing Final Fantasy games since I can remember owning a console, and they are without a doubt my favourite games. So it’s safe to say that working here is a dream come true for me. I’m also an avid gamer in general, and when I’m not playing Final Fantasy, you’ll find me invading worlds on Dark Souls or getting a beating at FIFA.

I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts and getting to know you folks a little more. In the meantime, please feel free to ask me anything and I’ll try my best to answer what I can.

Lee

Phase 3 boasts the largest amount of new content and improvements to-date, including the stunning city states of Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa. Adventurers will also be able to take part in nearly 100 FATE encounters (watch the live E3 FATE presentation to learn more), four additional dungeons, main scenario quests up to level 20, grand companies, provisioning missions, free companies and more!

Legacy account holders will automatically secure themselves instant access to the beta, and so will those that registered the code that was originally included in the boxed release of Final Fantasy XIII.

If you haven’t applied to become a beta tester yet then it’s not too late – sign up here to apply using this handy registration form. If you’re really eager to get hold of a famed beta key to unlock the door to a world of wonders, rumour has it you should keep a watchful eye on your favourite games website for beta key giveaways...

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is coming out on August 27, 2013 for PlayStation 3 and PC, and 2014 for PlayStation 4. Pre-order now and you’ll be treated to early access, in-game bonuses and more.

FATEs (Full Active Time Events) are extravagant large scale battles that take place in real time, within certain areas of the map. Keep an eye out though; FATEs can start anywhere, at any time. Also, they can be activated by interacting with NPCs, who, in certain situations, can provide support to you and your party during the event.

The clip also introduces another exciting aspect of the game: Level Sync. A handy new feature aimed at both high level players who want to participate in lower level FATEs with friends, or new players just starting out!

This developer commentary runs for an impressive 12 minutes, but don’t let that put you off - it’s overflowing with juicy new gameplay footage!

With an estimated 300 different types of FATEs on release, we can’t wait to get stuck in and take on giant turtle monsters! But if you can’t wait until then, you can try up to 100 FATE events in Phase 3 of the beta. Phase 3 starts this Friday, June 14, and will be available on PC and, for the first time, PlayStation 3 – so sign up to the beta now if you haven’t already!

Sign up to the Beta!

As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

For those who are perplexed at how an MMO of this magnitude will work on a PlayStation 3, this video is unquestionably worth checking out.

Featuring developer commentary from the game's Producer and Director, Naoki Yoshida, this handy walkthrough discusses several gameplay elements in the PS3 version of the game, including character creation, traversal, targeting and the battle system. You’ll get an idea of how simple and easy the PS3 controls are to pick-up and customise to your own style of play. 

The video is so jam-packed packed with content it’s almost 20 minutes long, so make yourself a cup of tea, relax, sit down, and enjoy the walkthrough!

Don't forget to sign up to the Beta! Phase 3 starts this Friday, June 14, and will be available on PC and, for the first time, PlayStation 3.

Hunt them down, of course!

This Summer we’ll be releasing a new Unreal-powered action RPG game called Bloodmasque for iOS devices, that pits you against the vampire threat as mankind faces oppression and darkness.

We’ll have more information in due course, but we’ll leave you with details one neat feature – you’ll be able to use your own photos to customise your character… check out the trailer and screens to see more about how it works.

So what's the difference between the regular version and the Director's Cut?

Well, the new edition builds upon the foundations of the game's critically-acclaimed release by introducing a number of fan-suggested improvements, as well as some entirely new features. The long list of enhancements includes the addition of Tong’s Rescue and the Missing Link missions – previously only available as download content – integrated seamlessly into the main story. Plus the boss fights have been overhauled, there's smarter AI, refined game balance, and striking visual improvements.

Gamers who were eager to try out the unique Wii U gamepad features will be able to explore the new neural hub with the addition of Microsoft’s SmartGlass on Xbox 360, and on the PlayStation 3 by connecting to a PlayStation Vita.

With over 8 hours of developer commentary and a wealth of high-tech extras, it’s safe to say that this is the best version yet. Head over to www.deusex.com to keep yourself apprised with all the latest Deus Ex intel.