Art director Hideo Minaba has created a new piece especially for the boxed, retail version of Final Fantasy XII on Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.
Boxed, retail versions of video games are becoming less common. The change from physical to digital has brought all sorts of effects, from shifts in the way charts are reported to the decline of high street sales of video games.
There’s still something really pleasant about boxed versions, though. They’re tangible. Tactile. Present.
In order to try and make boxed games more appealing, we’re starting to see a shift back to the “big box” days, of special editions bundled with extras that aren’t possible with a digital download.
One popular – and relatively cost-effective – way to add value to a boxed version is reversible box art. For the cost of a little extra at the printers (or at the player’s expense, if you’re FIFA) you can make your game feel a little bit more special, and give players who plump for the retail version an extra bonus.
The latest game to get the reversible box art is the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One release of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. The reversible cover has been created by art director Hideo Minaba, and features Sky Fortress Bahamut, one of the game’s giant airships. It’s also very pretty.
Art director Hideo Minaba created this new piece to celebrate #FinalFantasy XII The Zodiac Age coming to #Xbox One and #NintendoSwitch on April 30th. This beautiful art will be featured on the reversible inside cover of the physical editions!https://t.co/iNO6FaYScA pic.twitter.com/AgrBAJMHBI
— FINAL FANTASY (@FinalFantasy) April 10, 2019
This reversible box art is a welcome addition to Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, a remaster that already includes a number of quality-of-life improvements, including the ability to speed up the game’s semi-automated battles.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age comes to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on April 30, 2019.
