The Final Fantasy franchise has one of the most loyal fandoms in gaming, and anticipation is ramping up for the release of its next installment: Final Fantasy 16. With the release of each new title, it is common for fans to make pre-orders with the incentive of getting exclusive bonus content. Final Fantasy 16 was announced at the PlayStation Showcase event in 2020, and a trailer reveal followed the announcement at a State of Play event in October 2022. At The Game Awards 2022, a second trailer and an official release date were made public.
Final Fantasy 16 will come in three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Editions, each of which has digital and physical variants. The Standard and Deluxe editions are scheduled to release simultaneously, while the Collector's Edition of Final Fantasy 16 is expected to become available for pre-orders toward the end of 2023. There are two bonuses on offer for any version that people choose to get their hands on.
Final Fantasy 16: Standard Edition
Pre-orders for Final Fantasy 16 come packed with various in-game bonus items, with two available for all editions; a Cait Sith Charm and the Braveheart weapon DLC. The Cait Sith Charm boosts Gil received by anyone who uses it, Gil being the in-game currency in the Final Fantasy games that is usually obtained through quests, hunts, and selling items.
Those who like the old-fashioned aesthetic of owning a pack with a disk can opt for the physical copy, while the digital variant can be downloaded directly to gaming consoles. The two variants of the Standard Edition contain the complete Final Fantasy 16 game and its general pre-order bonuses.
Final Fantasy 16: Deluxe Edition
The Deluxe Edition is an upgrade from the Standard Edition, featuring two additional bonus items. The physical version comes with the base game, a Clive Rosfield SteelBook case, and a map of Valisthea - Final Fantasy 16's universe - printed on cloth. The digital version of Final Fantasy 16's Deluxe Edition has similarly digital perks for fans to enjoy, loaded with a mini art book containing illustrations and artwork from the game. A digital soundtrack is also on offer, comprising a selection of audio from composer Masayoshi Soken.
Final Fantasy 16: Collector’s Edition
The Collector's Edition of Final Fantasy 16 is the most elaborate available for purchase, and it is guaranteed to be a treasure for hardcore fans. This edition has several exclusive items: the base game - complete with the box and the cover art, a Clive Rosfield SteelBook case, a Cloth Map of Valisthea, a Metal Eikon Pin Collection, the Blood Sword DLC, a Collector's box, and a premium statue.
The Blood Sword DLC gives owners access to Firion's infamous scarlet steel blade from Final Fantasy 2. For fans with a flair for collecting, the most intriguing items will surely be the Metal Eikon Pin Collection, the statue, and the collector's box overall. The Metal Eikon Pin Collection is a set of eight pins depicting the eight Eikons of the Final Fantasy 16 universe, and this alone can form a centerpiece of a respectable collection. However, Square Enix is also treating fans with the statue of Ifrit, a majestic figurine representation of the showdown between Eikons Ifrit and Phoenix.
These attractions are not all that is on offer for buyers of the Collector's Edition. The Collector's Box - which some would call the main attraction - is an exquisitely designed metallic box with artwork personally designed by Yoshitaka Amano, the famous illustrator of the Final Fantasy series. There are also bonus items to further incentivize people into ordering the Collector's Edition from the Square Enix Store. The Collector's Edition has a limited supply, so interested fans should pre-order as early as possible to avoid missing out.
Final Fantasy 16 will be released on June 22, 2023, for PS5.