We’re thrilled to announce the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition, which will be available for purchase exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store.
Instead of just throwing together a bunch of cluttered pieces of cardstock, paperweights, or stuff you won’t ever look at again, we spent a lot of time coming up with some things we thought you’d really enjoy. In other words, we wanted to make this Collector’s Edition just that — something you’d actually want to collect.
Collector Box: As a lifelong fan of the Final Fantasy franchise like many of you, I’ve always loved the aesthetics of the Japanese cover art. We don’t want you to feel forced to import the Japanese copy of the game for obscene amounts of money just for the fantastic cover art, so that’s how we came to the decision to choose this specific artwork for the collector box.
80 page Hardcover Art Book: This art book, simply put, is awesome. Everyone is well aware that the Final Fantasy series is known for its iconic art, but we wanted to go above and beyond on this one.
This art book is wrapped in a dust jacket featuring legendary character designer Tetsuya Nomura’s original drawings. Diving into the book itself, the first thing you’ll notice is the foreword by visionary art director Isamu Kamikokuryo. As you flip through the pages, it only gets chock full of more awesomeness, like a retrospective look at the Final Fantasy XIII franchise, more character sketches and renderings, Lightning’s full range of customization, the world of Nova Chrysalia and its architecture, as well as the massive amounts of monsters contained within.
Finally, there are the two full gatefolds that give you an even more introspective look into Lightning Returns. It would have been tragic to force some of these pieces to fit on one page, so instead we spread it across two pages that fold out to reveal even more art.
Silver Embossed Pocket Watch: Lightning Returns revolves around a 13 day countdown doomsday clock — an ever-present challenge that forces you to make game-changing decisions throughout your playthrough. We wanted to give the gift of time back to you in the form of this premium pocket watch.
Click here to pre-order the collector’s edition.
Aerith Gainsborough ‘Midgar’s Flower Girl’ DLC: For you true Final Fantasy fans, we wanted to make sure you got a DLC code to put Lightning in one of the most recognizable costumes in franchise history.
PS3 Game: And of course, a copy of the game.
If that wasn’t enough, pre-ordering the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition also equips you with Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword, SOLDIER 1st class outfit, and victory fanfare, all for free.
The Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition will be available exclusively through the Square Enix online store on February 11th, 2014 for $89.99.
Anything else you’d like to know about the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition? Let us know in the comments below!
Day One
Nice collection.
SE online store only? Boo. Doesn’t ship worldwide. Why don’t you just take my money Square Enix?
No soundtrack? That was easily the best pack-in with Final Fantasy XIII-2. Still looks nice though.
What about Europe?
just on the se site? … and you didnt make a trilogy box set :( …. oh well maybe that’ll come later in the year when its cheaper :) …. make sure that box set has all the DLC though ;)
For anyone wondering, Square Enix’s digital store is run by Digital River…aka the company that completely messed up the Ni no Kuni collector’s edition debacle in the beginning of 2013. I’m sorry – I was excited for this first, but if it’s going to be exclusively through your online store then I can’t do it.
And yet it doesn’t include the Samurai Gear that GameStop is getting for preorders…I really would prefer the collectors edition but I don’t want to chance not being able to get all of the DLC garbs/weapons. Looks like I’m preordering two copies >_<
I wish you guys would port this to PS4 as well as PS3
I was interested in this, then I found out it was a Square Enix store exclusive, so no thank you. :(
I would have purchased this in a heartbeat if this wasn’t being supplied by DIgital River. These guys are horrible. Not only that but the shipping is ridiculous. 5-7 days for USPS costs $6? 2nd Day shipping costs $19? What century am I living in here? >__>
I want FFX HD.
I’d love to get this, but I don’t want to deal with Digital River, either. I was fortunately lucky to get my Wizard Edition of Ni No Kuni, but seeing what happened to hundreds of others that had pre-ordered their copies (and having half of my order not shipped from last years winter sale at SE’s site), I’m done dealing with that company.
Let me know when you’ve wised up and put it up on Amazon, or even GameStop’s site. I’ll be among the first. This Collector’s Edition looks top-notch!
ugh, wish I could edit comments. “Fortunately lucky?” What an awful phrase; pick one word or the other! :S
SE let Amazon sell the FFXIV collector’s edition. Why can’t this one too?
Pre-ordered can’t wait to play.
Was going to get it, if it wasn’t for the fact that I read “SE Store Exclusive”.. made me totally remember how bad Digital River is. I’m a sucker when it comes to art books and all sort of knick knacks that come with CEs. Well I guess I’ll settle with waiting a bit before getting it, since SE apparently doesn’t want my money. X_X
$90 collector edition?! lol. This game is a gamefly rental to me at best. I hated FF13’s cliche characters and linear exploration. FF13-2 had a fun battle system, but boring characters.
I don’t understand why Square continues to try and shove this uninteresting world down our throats. Out of all the Final Fantasy games you’ve made, what would make you think we needed 2 sequels in this universe?
Even you know people don’t care because you changed Versus 13 to FF15 to distance it as much as possible from this.
These would be nice pre-order bonuses, but $90 plus shipping is absolutely ridiculous.
I was excited about this, but I’m glad some other posters mentioned who was running the sale. After missing out on Ni No Kuni’s Wizard Edition because of their inability to handle a simple webstore I’ll have to pass.
We saw this with the Ni No Kuni special edition exclusive through Namco’s “special site”, this is a horrible idea. I trust Amazon.com, that is where I go to buy my gaming wares. I also get guarantied release date delivery coupled with free shipping. You guys aren’t even giving us that. WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THIS THROUGH SE’S STORE IF YOU CAN’T EVEN TOUCH THE GOLD STANDARD LET ALONE BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THEM!
Keep your Collector’s Edition and Keep your game, I’m done with square trying to manipulate my dollar with Final Fantasy.
So lets see…in one hand I get Aerith…and the other hand I get Cloud and Samurai….obvious choice is Gamestop preorder and not Square Enix’s. Besides All game companies lie when hey say “exclusive” and the DLC always ends up on the network on a later date anyway.
Mat, I have a question. I pre-ordered both this and Drakengard 3 on the same order. Before checking out there was red text that said “Shipment of the ordered items may be delayed until 12/31/2014 for Drakengard 3 [PS3].”. I took this to mean that D3 might be delayed but that the LR Collector’s Edition would still ship at it’s normal time. Then after I checked out the red text said “This order will be shipped after the release date of 12/31/2014 for Drakengard 3 [PS3]”. Those are two completely different wordings that mean two different things. So which is it going to be? Will I have to wait for D3 to be shipped before getting LR? or will D3 ship separately later? Thanks.
Hi FearMonkey,
Apologies about any confusion, so allow me to hopefully clarify the situation.
The Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition will ship out on 2/11/2014.
Drakengard 3’s launch date has not been announced, so the reason why the system is saying it will ship out on 12/31/2014 is because that is simply a placeholder date until we announce the release date.