December 19^th, 2005 (4:13pm) - Square Enix and Future, the international special-interest media company have announced a deal that sees the next issue of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine exclusively cover-mounting the Final Fantasy XI Beta version for Xbox 360.

As the biggest covermount in the five-year history of Xbox magazines, the beta disc will only be available with Future’s Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine in the USA, UK, France, Italy and Germany, joining the title’s existing monthly coverdisc.

The exclusive disc is completely free for the duration of the beta test and will give fans of the Final Fantasy series and readers of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine an exciting opportunity to be the first to sample the next-generation version of Final Fantasy XI. Square Enix will be opening their beta servers for a limited-time, enabling gamers to help them fine-tune the Xbox 360 version, which includes support for high-definition screens, before the retail version goes on sale.

Players will undertake multiple adventures in the world of Vana’diel - a gaming universe packed with the award-winning visual content, innovative gameplay and deep storylines which have made the Final Fantasy series million sellers across the globe. All gamers need to experience the beta version of Final Fantasy XI is an Xbox 360 with Hard Drive and broadband connection.

"The Final Fantasy XI development team are delighted to welcome Xbox 360 adventurers to Vana’diel," said Hiromichi Tanaka, Producer of Final Fantasy XI. "With this powerful system, these new members of the Final Fantasy XI community have a fantastic journey ahead. The beta tests will give players a taste of the excitement that is Final Fantasy XI."

James Ashton-Tyler Group Publisher for Xbox 360: The Official Magazine added:

"I’m delighted that Square Enix chose Future as their partner for this pioneering international project. The readers of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine readers are amongst the most passionate and hardcore gamers on the planet and are therefore ideal to test a major game of this magnitude before release. It’s fantastic that our magazines, on sale in multiple markets, can give readers the chance to play a truly immersive Xbox 360 game months before anyone else and we look forward to joining our gamers on this exciting adventure."