I'm expecting it to be the same this time around.
I do find it a bit weird that because it isn't solely Stormblood that it doesn't contain the Stormblood pre-orders but I did want to add that the "Collectors" Complete Edition contains the Collector Edition Digital items for all releases. So it's not simply the base game, its the base game plus the digital upgrade. Can still argue worth of course but I think it looks more like this:
Complete Edition, CE (w/o preorder items):
Digital ARR CE: 44.99
Digital Heavensward CE: 39.99
Digital Stormblood CE: 59.99
= 144.97
144.97 - 99.99 = 44.98
Standard Complete Edition (again doesn't come with pre-order items):
D Standard ARR: 19.99 to 9.99
D Standard Heavensward: 19.99
D Standard Stormblood: 39.99
= 59.98
59.98 - 59.99 = -0.01 to -10.01
So either way you don't get pre-order bonus, no earrings, minion, or early access, but there could be some range of savings.
Edit:
Well that explains why it doesn't have pre-order items, it's not a pre-order at that point lol.
Editx2: Didn't believe Stormblood contained Heavensward right away because I thought that'd make math silly, edited math when I found the line that indeed says Stormblood contains Heavensward lol.
As mentioned in the announcement, there are no pre-order bonuses for pre-ordering the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Complete Edition. While Stormblood is included in the package, as it is an all-in-one package, it is not "pre-ordering Stormblood" as I mentioned previously.
The FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Complete Edition will launch on June 20th and we are not currently planning to offer it for pre-order in North America. If it is offered as part of a retailer initiative ahead of launch, it will not include any pre-order bonuses.
Hope that clears it up for you!
While there will be a digital Stormblood Collector's Edition on Steam, there are no plans to release a physical Stormblood Collector's Edition for Steam.
In regard to the pre-order bonuses, you will receive those when pre-purchasing Stormblood on Steam (scheduled to begin in May 2017).
This is a silly question, but I remember for Heavensward you gave a phial of Fantasia with the collectors edition. Is there any chance there will be one with Stormblood?
Would be great at this point to consider just treating general Windows & Steam version as the same. From what I've read it's really just a integration/coding issue(?).
But I would like to know is if there will be separate purchases for some of the major physical items from CE?
I really want the Zenos yae Galvus figure. It looks super well done & definitely within the type of style that I like. Also gives me hope for potentially what the next job is going to be ;).
It's just very disappointing to have buy another version, even within PC, just to get the cool stuff. Heck, just a separate box on it's own with all the collector's stuff (Tho, pseudo-steam edition, I guess). No game needed. I'll get it through steam (I have to).
Sorry for long post, I'm excited & disappointed at the same time. I'm a new player who started at beginning of January & been really captured by the game. I just want the cool stuff too & not have made a disappointing choice buying the steam version.
Which cover do you get when you get the physical CE in the United States? Are the covers flippable? Would really prefer getting the Zenos cover in the CE