Heavensward, the first expansion pack for MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, is all settled in for a June 23rd launch on PC, PS3, PS4, and, for the first time, Mac OS. That means it’s time for collector’s editions and pre-order campaigns to begin. Yay!

A number of options are available to cater to existing players and newcomers alike, including a $39.99 standard edition, an all-in-one bundle containing both A Realm Reborn and Heavensward for $59.99, a digital collector’s edition with bonus in-game items for $59.99, and the big daddy of them all, a $129.99 physical collector’s edition containing all this good stuff:

• “Dragonsong War” Exclusive Box featuring art by famed Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano

• Expertly-Crafted Dragon Mount Figure

• The Art of Eorzea – Heavensward – Artbook

• Additional Content Blu-ray Disc: Eorzea in Motion – A Realm Revisited

• In-game items including:

– Exclusive In-Game Flying Griffin Mount: Take to the skies and fly through the clouds on the back of the majestic griffin.

– Dark Knight Cecil-themed Baron Helm: Relive the magic of FINAL FANTASY IV with this specially designed headgear exclusive to the Collector’s Edition.

– Wind-up Kain: Summon a clockwork rendition of Kain Highwind, legendary dragoon from the mythical kingdom of Baron.

If you’re ready to throw your money at Square Enix, these are the pre-order incentives to look forward to:

– Early Access: Pre-order Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward and access the game servers ahead of the official launch. (Early access is currently scheduled to begin on June 19th. To participate, customers must already own A Realm Reborn and have completed the base game’s main campaign scenario.)

– Baron Circlet & Baron Earrings: Relive the days of old and don the gear worn by the ever-loyal Cecil Harvey in FINAL FANTASY IV.

– Chocobo Chick Courier: This cute Chocobo chick will follow you on your new adventures heavensward.

Visit store.na.square-enix.com/final-fantasy-xiv to go over the many available buying options.

PlayStation 4 owners itching to get their fantasy MMORPG on won’t have to wait too much longer. Square Enix has confirmed this evening that the PS4 version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will launch on April 14th. Furthermore, the game’s beta testing is scheduled to begin on February 22nd.

PS4 pre-orders will open Monday, January 27, including the standard edition for $39.99 and a collector’s edition for $79.99. (A digital PSN collector’s edition will also be sold for $59.99.) In-game items the Mog Cap and Cait Sith Doll minion will be offered as pre-order bonuses for either version, in addition to early game access starting on April 11th. Current owners of a previously registered FFXIV collector’s edition will automatically receive the Fat Chocobo Mount and Wind-up Moogle minion, in-game items new to the PS4 collector’s edition.

The full retail PS4 collector’s edition will include:

– Special box featuring artwork by Yoshitaka Amano
– Art Book – The Art of Eorzea: A Realm Reimagined
– Special Soundtrack -The Sounds of Eorzea-
– Seventh Umbral Era Special Movie Content Disc – The Waning of the Sixth Sun
– Art Card Set
– Themed Security Token
– In-Game Items – Coeurl Mount, Behemoth Barding, Baby Behemoth minion, Helm of Light, Fat Chocobo Mount and Wind-up Moogle minion

Existing PS3 players will be able to upgrade and transfer their accounts over to the PS4 version for free, but once the migration is complete it will not be possible to switch back to the PS3 version. Anyone who wants to maintain the ability to continue playing on PS3 will need to buy a separate PS4 copy to play on both platforms. Square Enix will be announcing more information about the platform transfer process soon.

Final Fantasy XIV, meet Lightning Returns. Lightning Returns, meet Final Fantasy XIV. Are you BFFs now? Good, so why not throw a fashion swap party?

That’s just what Square Enix is doing for its two latest Final Fantasy games. This cross-title collaboration sees Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning descending upon Eorzea for a Full Active Time Event in Final Fantasy XIV. Once players complete the event, fighting alongside Lightning, they will receive outfits and weapons like those worn by the stars of Lightning Returns.

Similarly, when Lightning Returns launches in February, players will be able to search for clues to unlock a Miqo’te outfit for Lightning and complete side quests to unlock weapons and shields themed after the Limsa Lominsa, Ul’dah and Gridania city states of Final Fantasy XIV. This comes on top of that sweet Cloud Strife pre-order gear Lightning already has in her bonus costume wardrobe.

Final Fantasy XIV dressed like Lightning Returns looks like this:
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And Lightning Returns dressed like Final Fantasy XIV looks like this:
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Oh, and here’s video footage of Lightning’s FATE appearance in Final Fantasy XIV:

Before Final Fantasy XIV is officially reborn on August 27th, Square Enix has one more testing phase scheduled for the weekend of August 17th through the 19th. This fourth and final phase will be an open beta for all MMORPG adventurers on PC and PS3.

Once the open beta is complete, eager Eorzeans who have pre-ordered the game will get a headstart on everyone else with early access to the final game beginning August 24th. Loyal returning players from the game’s disastrous original 1.0 build will also be welcomed back with free gameplay until Monday, September 9.

A week after game launch, Square Enix plans to release Final Fantasy XIV: Libra Eorzea, a free companion app that will tether players to the game wherever they go via their iOS device of choice. A Veteran Rewards program will be in place as well, rewarding players with bonus content based on the length of their subscription, in tiers of 30, 60 and 90 days. Square Enix did not mention what exactly these bonuses will be in today’s news release.

The latest video tour of Final Fantasy XIV takes us deep into the Eorzean dungeons new adventurers will encounter early in the game. From the caverns of Sastasha lit by glowing plant life to the monster-infested tunnels of Copperbell Mines to the gothic halls of Haukke Manor to the scenic but oh so deadly wilderness of Brayflox’s Longstop, you will see a full nine minutes of panoramic gameplay footage.

And while you’re hanging around, Square Enix has announced updated details for the fourth beta leading up to the August 27th game launch. PC and PS3 owners who register a beta code by Tuesday, July 30 will be automatically accepted into the final testing phase. The beta application site will reopen once the fourth beta begins.

Now – without further delay – let the dungeon crawl tour begin!

The third phase of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn‘s ongoing PC and PS3 beta is now back up and running as of 5AM EST this morning. How long will this session last? Unfortunately I can’t say yet because Square Enix hasn’t announced the end date. Hopefully it lasts beyond the weekend as I will be away from my PS3 for a few days and am eager to put more time into the beta. So far I’ve only been able to make it up to level 5 doing entry level fetch and hunt quests. What I’ve played has been pretty fun. Basic MMORPG stuff, but fun nonetheless. And quite lovely on the eyes.

Speaking of lovely on the eyes, Square Enix has released its third ‘Tour of Eorzea’ video showcasing seven minutes of gameplay and beautiful scenery from various locales across the game world. Below that, is a new developer commentary explaining the new Duty Finder, a feature that makes finding groups for dungeons and raids super simple. Players from different worlds can quickly team up to complete a mission and then drop right back to where they were in their part of the world before joining the party.

Anyone else out there in on the FFXIV beta? How are you liking it?

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As an addendum of sorts to yesterday’s post about Final Fantasy XIV‘s PS4 confirmation, I thought you might want to hit the pause button and join me for a moment of pure video game art appreciation as things begin to wind down on the final day of our hectic week of E3 coverage. I won’t bog things down with a lot of chatter here. Just take your time browsing through our updated gallery of Final Fantasy XIV CGI renders and concept artwork. And, if you’re like me, pick out a new wallpaper or two for your desktop.

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Already set for an August 27th launch on PC and PS3, the rebirth project for Square Enix’s troubled MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, will now encompass a PlayStation 4 release in 2014.

Square Enix is also working with Sony to put the necessary infrastructure in place to give PS3 players the ability to transfer their accounts over to PS4 once it becomes available, but I think we better see how the initial relaunch goes before looking that far ahead. The process of getting the game onto PS3 has been excruciating enough as it is. Expecting a smooth, timely launch on PS4 would be foolish, I say, unless of course the new version becomes a smashing success. Cautious optimism is my mentality at this point.

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What’s this? More Collector’s Edition news today? Eat this, Grand Theft Auto V!

Approaching three years after its initial, abysmal PC launch, MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV returns anew on August 27th, this time on both PC and PS3 as originally intended. Along with completely revamping the game mechanics and designing a brand new engine, Square Enix is welcoming adventurers back to the realm of Eorzea with a new and improved Collector’s Edition which includes the following:

• Collector’s box designed by Yoshitaka Amano, legendary FINAL FANTASY artist

• 80-page “Art of Eorzea” hardcover art book featuring never-before-seen concept art

• “The Waning of the Sixth Sun,” a special bonus video disc that takes a cinematic look at the events that led up to the realm being reborn

• “Sounds of Eorzea” album that features musical scores by renowned FINAL FANTASY series composers

• Five collectable character art cards

• A FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn-branded security token to secure user accounts

• In-game bonus items: Helm of Light, Baby Behemoth Minion, Coeurl Mount and Behemoth Barding

The Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition will retail for $79.99 on PS3 and on PC exclusively from the Square Enix Online Store for $69.99. For Final Fantasy XIV in plain vanilla flavor, the game will sell for $39.99 on PS3 and $29.99 on PC. All copies will come with a 30-day free trial period before the $12.99 monthly subscription rate kicks in.

If you already purchased the original Collector’s Edition for Final Fantasy XIV 1.0, you won’t get the new collectible goodies, but you can expect free delivery of a Moogle Letter containing the four in-game bonus items offered in the A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition. Existing PC owners will similarly be able to download the freshly overhauled full game for free.

Pre-order bonuses are also now available, including early game access and a Cait Sith Doll Minion vanity pet and Mog Cap headgear as in-game bonus items. Whether or not these pre-order items will be awarded to version 1.0 players who don’t need to buy the game again is a question I do not have an answer for.