Solid confirmation of the monthly price for Square's upcoming PlayOnline service has finally arisen. Final Fantasy XI itself will cost several thousand yen, and monthly fees will cost players 1000 to 2000 yen, or $8.21 to $16.42. These price confirmations also come with a more solid release date: the game is expected to be released in March or April 2002 in Japan.

No information concerning a North American or European release of Final Fantasy XI has been released officially yet, but past interviews with Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series, indicate that the game will see a world wide release. Neither Square EA or Square Europe have commented on pricing details for the North American or European versions of the game. Check out our Final Fantasy XI coverage for the latest.