*Disclaimer* This article is based on UK Pricing, things may be different prices where you are. Please research first*
I fully understand that there are people out there who do not like MMOs. I can understand this, because I like MMOs in a weird way that basically negates the entire multiplayer and social side of things. I’m not exactly sure why, but MMOs scratch a very particular itch that normal RPGs just can’t reach.
I have also heard whispers that there exists a non-zero number of people who do not like Final Fantasy games. Now I can understand this a little… opinions were certainly divided on all of the XIII series and I didn’t particularly like XI or XII either. But when it comes to excellent examples of both the MMO genre and Final Fantasy series, you can’t go wrong with Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
“But Chris,” you may be asking – nay, pleading – with your monitor, in a desperate attempt to reach me through the internet. “Why, dear god why, are you writing another article about Final Fantasy?” In general, the answer is “Because I literally cannot shut up about it for more than a few weeks”. In this particular instance, however, it’s to let people know about the impending release of A Realm Reborn on Sony’s newest console. Moreover, it’s about how gamers could get a great deal through some savvy purchasing.
First and foremost, we’ll deal with the facts. Square-Enix are releasing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – the new and improved, rebooted version of their previous MMO, Final Fantasy XIV Online – for the PS4. It’s due out on April the 14th across the globe and doesn’t require PlayStation Plus to play; just the Square-Enix subscription fee. If you were to check around various retailers (both online and brick-and-mortar), you’ll probably see a couple of different pre-orders dotted around the place. Some cursory checking at the moment lets me know that the Standard Edition is just under £27, with the Collector’s Edition clocking in at almost £60.
Of course, I’m still a bit angry about this whole digital pricing thing, but the issue persists further. Physical copies of games are just as susceptible to that sort of tomfoolery. Luckily, in this instance, there’s a way around the inflated costs associated with what is otherwise shaping up to be one of the best games on PS4.
First of all, you need to consider the following: if you pre-order either PS4 version, you’ll get two bonus items that you will not get if you use my upcoming money-saving trick. The Cait Sith Doll minion is a little NPC pet, based on the tiny cat portion of Cait Sith from Final Fantasy VII, that will follow you around in-game. The Moogle Cap is a head-slot item that will boost your XP gain from levels 1 to 10. Of the two, only the Moogle Cap is really any good, but if you’re mad about collecting pets in MMOs, this might be a deal breaker. With that said, if you’re happy enough to skip these two items, then read on.
Something that Square-Enix have been very vocal about, but which doesn’t appear to have gotten much press, is that players of the PS3 version of A Realm Reborn will be able to upgrade to the PS4 version for free. What’s more, players who purchased the PS3 Collector’s Edition will be getting all of the benefits of the PS4 Collector’s Edition (bar the pre-order bonuses mentioned above). What this means is that, if you own a PS3, you can save a ton of cash and get a brilliant MMO for next to nothing.
On the same site I checked before, the Standard Edition of ARR on the PS3 is selling for a minuscule £8 (a saving of over 70%) and the Collector’s Edition is available starting at £25 – less than half the price of the PS4 version. The contents of the PS3 and PS4 editions are exactly the same in terms of what you’ll end up getting in-game. If you own a PS3, and if you’re smart about it, you’ll buy the PS3 version of whichever one you want to end up with on the PS4.
Now for anyone who doesn’t own a PS3, this deal won’t apply. If there people out there planning on using a friend’s PS3 to get around this limitation, be aware that you need to fully set up and register the game on the PS3 in question. This involves permanently linking your PSN ID to your Square-Enix ID – while I’m sure it’s possible to switch user profiles temporarily to circumvent this, I would urge caution, lest you end up wasting whatever money you might have saved. Please also bear in mind that Square-Enix have said categorically that when you perform the switch from PS3 to PS4, you will no longer be able to play A Realm Reborn on the PS3. Though you’ll still have access to the digital installer via the PSN storefront, your physical Blu-ray will become effectively obsolete.
As a last bonus, existing players of A Realm Reborn will be able to participate in the Early Access period for the PS4, which starts on April the 11th. If you want to cut it close and have a taste of what’s on offer, the second phase of beta testing for the PS4 version is open to absolutely everyone, regardless of game ownership, and will be running from April the 4th to the 7th. Any characters you create during this second beta phase will carry over to the full game, should you decide to purchase it.
So if you’re even the slightest bit fond of MMOs, and/or have a love affair with Final Fantasy – and happen to own both a PS3 and PS4 – do yourself a favour and bag a bargain in the coming weeks. See you in Eorzea.
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A twenty-something gamer from the North-East of Scotland. By day, I’m a Computer Technician at a local IT recycling charity, where I fix and build PCs. Outside of that, most of my time is spent either sleeping or gaming, which I try accomplish in equal amounts.
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