Square Enix Announces New Official Final Fantasy 40th Anniversary Album
Square Enix has unveiled a new Final Fantasy music collection celebrating the RPG series’ 40th anniversary, bringing together 16 tracks with one song selected from every numbered entry from the original Final Fantasy through Final Fantasy XVI.
The “FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary: THE CRYSTAL VINYL EDITION” and “FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary: THE CRYSTAL EDITION” will offer the same selection as a two-LP vinyl set and single-CD digipak, respectively.
The original Final Fantasy launched for Nintendo’s Famicom in Japan on December 18, 1987, beginning a series that has since moved between completely different worlds, characters and stories while retaining recurring elements such as crystals, Chocobos, Moogles and familiar musical themes.
Music has remained an important part of Final Fantasy throughout that history, beginning with Nobuo Uematsu’s scores for the early games before later entries introduced work from composers including Masashi Hamauzu, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, Masayoshi Soken and others.
Rather than concentrating on one era of the franchise, “THE CRYSTAL” traces its history chronologically, moving from the original game’s “Main Theme” through major battle themes, character pieces and location music before ending with “Away” from Final Fantasy XVI.
The complete 16-track selection is:
- “Main Theme” – Final Fantasy I
- “The Rebel Army” – Final Fantasy II
- “Eternal Wind” – Final Fantasy III
- “Theme of Love” – Final Fantasy IV
- “Battle at the Big Bridge” – Final Fantasy V
- “Searching for Friends” – Final Fantasy VI
- “One-Winged Angel” – Final Fantasy VII
- “Force Your Way” – Final Fantasy VIII
- “Not Alone” – Final Fantasy IX
- “Zanarkand” – Final Fantasy X
- “Ronfaure” – Final Fantasy XI
- “The Dalmasca Estersand” – Final Fantasy XII
- “Blinded By Light” – Final Fantasy XIII
- “Torn from the Heavens” – Final Fantasy XIV
- “Somnus (Instrumental Version)” – Final Fantasy XV
- “Away” – Final Fantasy XVI
The vinyl edition spreads those tracks across four sides, with Final Fantasy I through VI occupying Side A, VII through X on Side B, XI through XIII on Side C, and the final three games completing Side D.
Square Enix is also taking Final Fantasy’s music around the world during the anniversary year through “FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY – Eternal”, a major 2027 orchestra tour featuring music and footage from across the series.
Another set of physical music releases will arrive on exactly the same day as “THE CRYSTAL”, with the “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY-” series returning with a second CD and two vinyl editions featuring pop-style arrangements of tracks from Final Fantasy I through XVI.
The two projects take very different approaches to the same musical history, with “#SQkawaii Sounds” reworking familiar compositions into new arrangements while “THE CRYSTAL” presents a single selected track from each numbered game as a chronological anniversary collection.
The two-LP “FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary: THE CRYSTAL VINYL EDITION” is priced at ¥8,800 (approximately $56 / £42), while the single-CD “FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary: THE CRYSTAL EDITION” costs ¥3,960 (approximately $25 / £19).
Japanese pre-orders for both editions are now open through the Square Enix e-STORE, Amazon Japan, Sony Music Shop, Tower Records Online, HMV&BOOKS online, Rakuten Books, Yodobashi.com and Neowing.
Amazon Japan will also offer a limited Mega Jacket purchase bonus with either edition while supplies last, although its artwork has yet to be revealed.
North American and European releases also appear to be planned, although regional pricing, release dates and availability details have yet to be confirmed.
Both editions are scheduled for release in Japan on January 6, 2027, almost a full year of celebrations ahead of Final Fantasy’s 40th anniversary on December 18.
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