Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector's Edition

Square Enix rebuilt an entire MMO from the ashes, and the collector's edition matched that ambition. The Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector's Edition on PlayStation 3 is a monument to one of gaming's greatest comeback stories, packed with The Art of Eorzea hardbound art book featuring work from Art Director Akihiko Yoshida, The Waning of the Sixth Sun Blu-ray documenting the cataclysm that bridged the original failed launch and the reborn version, a soundtrack collection from Sound Director Masayoshi Soken, and five art cards from Square Enix Visual Works. The Art of Eorzea is a substantial hardbound volume, not a flimsy pamphlet, showcasing the complete visual reimagining of a world that had to be destroyed and rebuilt in real time.

The Blu-ray is a fascinating piece of gaming history, capturing the in-game apocalypse event that served as both a narrative conclusion to the original FFXIV and a bridge to A Realm Reborn. Soken's soundtrack is the foundation of what would become one of the most celebrated scores in MMO history, and these early compositions capture the energy of a fresh start. The art cards from Visual Works round out a package that feels like a time capsule of hope and reinvention.

PS3 copies carry extra collector significance since the platform was eventually discontinued for FFXIV, making this a relic from the game's most unlikely chapter.