We have something that many of you have been looking forward to. And boy, have you been looking forward to it.

This time around, let’s see if we can get you prepared for the beta with all the important questions and answers. If you have any more questions regarding the beta, please feel free to ask in the comments! I’ll do my best to answer them.

Here you’ll find pretty much all of the questions and comments that came up during the first beta phase, with according relevant answers. You can find the following points below:

• When does the beta start?
• What do I need to play the beta?
• Where can I download the beta client?
• Can I carry my character over to the live game after the beta test?
• Can I play my existing character?
• Can I play my existing character (previous beta 1)?
• Do I play on beta servers? Will I see other players?
• Why can’t I create a character on server X?
• I participated in beta 1, and the text was really small. Was that fixed?
• I can’t log in with my existing account!
• Do I need a one-time password to log in?
• I did not get my confirmation mail!
• How can I contact the support center (for account related problems)?
• Can I share a live stream or screenshots from the game?
• Can I use Mouse & Keyboard instead of, or in addition to, DualShock 4?
• Can I play using Remote Play on PS Vita?
• Is the game subscription-based?
• I love it! Where can I pre-order Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn?

When does the beta start?

Beta phase 2 starts today, April 4th, and runs until Monday, April 7th.

What do I need to play the beta?

All you need is a PS4! Some of you may still have the old beta client installed – you can safely delete it to free up hard disk space. We know it’s a big download, but there have been a lot of updates, so updating the old client didn’t make much sense. The good news is: If you buy the game after playing beta 2, you won’t need to download the full game again.  A few small updates and you’ll be up and running in the full game!

Where can I download the beta client?

Just log into your account, go into PlayStation Store, and select Games -> Top Games – you will see it in the list. Alternatively, you can search for Final Fantasy XIV – the beta client will be among the results. (Remember that you can safely uninstall/delete the beta 1, if you still have the old beta client on your PS4, to free up disc space.)

Can I carry my character over to the live game?

Yes! If you decide to buy the game, you can continue playing with your character from beta 2.

Can I play with my existing character?

Yes! Simply log in on PS4 with your usual account details and link your Square Enix Account to your PlayStation Network account (unless you have already played on PS3, then you just need to accept the terms for your existing account). You will be able to play normally.

Can I play my existing character (previous beta 1)?

No – as explained before the first beta, characters that have been created during that phase had to be wiped.

Do I play on beta servers? Will I see other players?

This beta phase will take place on live servers! Which means you will be playing together with all the existing FFXIV players on PC and PS3.

Why can’t I create a character on server X?

During the beta, there will be a massive amount of new players. If too many want to start on the same server at the same time, we might have to temporarily disable character creation on that server to make sure that the game continues to be enjoyable for all players on the server. If you are determined to play on a specific server, you will have to wait for it to open up again.

I participated in the beta 1, and the text was really small. Was that fixed?

We have worked on the size of the launcher as well as the size of the in-game text. Please give it a try. And remember that you can resize and move UI elements at will (see how-to here). We will continue to optimize these settings in future updates. If you still think it’s too small, please let us know on the official beta forums!

I can’t log in with my existing account!

We know the service names are quite similar, and many of you already have a Square Enix membership, where you link your existing games. FFXIV, however, needs a separate Square Enix Account. So please do not try to log in with your Square Enix membership, as it won’t work. Please note: Our account system is also case sensitive!

We know the text entry tool sometimes likes to disfigure things like email addresses (for instance .Com instead of .com). Please make sure to mind capitals in your username and email address when creating an account. If you still can’t log in, please contact our customer support here (North America).

Do I need a one-time password to log in?

A one-time password is generated by a free smartphone app or a small keychain fob. Only users that have previously added this as an extended security measure will need to enter it.

If you buy the Collector’s Edition, you will get a keychain fob in it. Otherwise, just download the smartphone app for free. Everyone that has registered a one-time password device to his account will be able to select a free teleport location in-game. More info here.

I did not get my confirmation mail!

Please let us know in the comments if you do not get your confirmation mail, and make sure to mention which email provider you use (Gmail, GMX, Yahoo, etc.) and if your email address contains any special characters (like underscores, hyphens, commas, dots, etc., or country/language-specific characters). Please do not post your full email address or any identifying information!

Also, please make sure to check your spam folders and add *@account.square-enix.com to any whitelist you may have, if you are familiar with that process.

How can I contact the support center (for account related problems)?

Just check out our convenient chat support tool (North America). Please try to have all relevant information ready before you start the chat though, to keep waiting times short – the beta weekend will probably be very busy. Thank you!

Can I share a live stream or screenshots from the game?

Yes! By all means, go ahead.

Can I use Mouse & Keyboard instead of, or in addition to, DualShock 4?

Yes! You can play the game however you want.

Can I play using Remote Play on PS Vita?

Yes! Someone wants to watch a football game on the TV? Just grab your Vita and continue to level your character remotely.

Is the game subscription-based?

Yes. You get 30 free days of game time when you buy a retail version. You can learn everything about what you get with your subscription in this article, here on PlayStation.Blog!

I love it! Where can I pre-order the game?

Just follow this link.

And that’s it! If you have any other questions, feel free to put them into the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.