Here is to the endless adventure of what lies just beyond the next horizon!

A few months back Square Enix released a gorgeous and wonderfully made CGI cinematic to mark the end of the first version of Final Fantasy XIV. It was the kind of short film that, whatever your feelings about the game or even SE in general these days, was hard to deny as an impressive piece. Now as the beta for XIV‘s new incarnation A Realm Reborn draws close a follow-up of sorts has been released as well. In actual point of fact nearly the entirety of that first video is included in this new one below but an additional four minutes worth of CGI picks up the story and shows where the world of Eorzea stands in the aftermath of the event that ended an era. Honestly by the time the video ended I could not wipe the smile from my face and I suspect I will not be alone in this either. Check it out below.

I have said it before and I will say it again: should Square Enix ever want to get back into the business of making CGI films again I will be behind them 100 percent. Has this video alone convinced me I cannot live without A Realm Reborn? No and at this I cannot see any subscription based-MMO managing such a feat at this point but that does not make the video any less of a brilliant piece of craftsmanship. Say what you will about Square Enix, they know how to spin an enthralling and pretty piece of CGI.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, the beta for A Realm Reborn does indeed draw closer with every passing day and along with that SE is now accepting applications for the beta from the general gaming audience. Note that this application process is only necessary for those interested in the beta that also did not own/play the original XIV since said owners are considered legacy players by SE and will be granted automatic entry into all phases of the beta. For more details and a full roadmap of the beta and its phases be sure to head here). Meanwhile the application site for the beta can be found here . Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will begin its beta in mid-February and is currently set to run for several months with the full official relaunch being aimed at this time for mid-2013. Stay tuned to Blistered Thumbs for continuing coverage of all things Final Fantasy and be sure to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Shaun K.

Follow my tweets: @bigred_13 and @ihaveissuestv

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