Article: Final Fantasy XIV open beta to start on August 17, early access on August 24

[Khaotic]

17th-19th for phase 4, 16th-19th if you participated in earlier betas.

Early access is the 24th going straight into launch with no server shut downs.

Apparently phase 4 has a level cap of 20 as well.

[Loony BoB]

They've decreased the level cap for the part where level progression is hoped to carry through to launch?

Such a weird way of doing things. But oh well. I'm pretty sure everyone is aware that this is essentially a show and tell demo stage of the game.

[Khaotic]

They've decreased the level cap for the part where level progression is hoped to carry through to launch?

Such a weird way of doing things. But oh well. I'm pretty sure everyone is aware that this is essentially a show and tell demo stage of the game.

I'd imagine because it's open beta and anyone can play, pretty much like a free trial, although I think people that pre-ordered it should be able to progress passed 20 but oh well.

[chaos7]

I actually like the the fact that they limited it to lv 20 for the open beta because that mean I can get my two classes up for one character (one to 20 the other to 15) and then probably have time to lvl a second character and maybe do some crafting.

[Raistlin]

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Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn producer Yoshi-P announced that phase 4 of the beta, aka open beta, will only be one weekend: from August 17 to August 19. However, beta testers who participated in earlier phases will have access to phase 4 starting August 16.

Everything – such as characters created, as well as items earned and quest content accessed -- will carry over from phase 4 into the full version of A Realm Reborn. Phase 4’s content will be the same as the full retail version of the game, except for a level 20 cap.

Early access to the full version of FFXIV, minus the level cap, will begin on August 24, just a few days before the August 27 release. There is no planned server downtime between early access and the beginning of public service, so particularly eager players will be able to play nonstop beginning the 24th.

Only one more week to wait until beta phase 4, and then just one week after that until open access (which is essentially the full release for those participants)! Who’s ready for A Realm Reborn?

[Aulayna]

I won't be on during Phase 4 as most of it falls during my work week.

But yeah it makes sense that it's level capped where it's Open Beta. It's effectively a demo that people aren't paying to play so they don't want to give everyone the full breadth of content for free.

Early access is where the real fun begins... and I'll also be working then too, hurrah!