Final Fantasy XIV: Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V Q&A

Letter from the Producer LIVE Part V aired on YouTube some hours ago. As always, it will be published soon as a not-live video, most likely with subtitles in different languages; in the meanwhile, check this official thread with all the Q&As (note from Bayohne: "Please note that after we create the full Q&A summary, it will be posted in the normal "Letter from the Producer" forum and this thread will be removed". I'll update the link when this happens). Click here to check the video and the full Q&A text summary in one of the available languages.

Some highlights:

• The housing system (for Free Companies and individual players) will be available with the first major update after release
• Focus right now is on developing the game for PC and PlayStation 3. No real info on a possible PlayStation 4 release
• There will be a downloadable version of the game for PC and PS3
• Summoner (and Arcanist) will be available at launch
• 1.0 players will be able to reallocate their attribute points
• Shouts (/shout) will now reach an entire area
• Legacy Config: players will be able to toggle their controls and movement system like they were in 1.0 (example: turning and running instead of backpedaling)
• Fall damage can't make you die (worst scenario: you'll be left with 1 HP)
• After the housing system, chocobo raising will be implemented as well
• Gatherers (Disciples of the Land) will have a chance to find a Treasure Map while gathering: this will contain a hint of a location, where many monsters will spawn. Defeating them will give the players a reward
• The global cooldown on actions (which was implemented in alpha) has been reduced by 0.5 seconds
• Gilgamesh will be in A Realm Reborn (mini-scenario quests)
• The first expansion, which will also come with a new playable race, will be released within two years of launch
• Different functionalities will be available on smartphones (example: check your character data or items and quests database)
• Minions: you can bring a pet along with you (example: the baby Behemoth shown on New Year's day)
• Character creation benchmark will be released after Beta test phase 3
• During Beta test phase 3, we'll get to know which world will be connected to which data center