Final Fantasy X is getting a clear vinyl set for its 25th anniversary

Square Enix has announced two new physical music releases to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy X. Launching on July 1, 2026, the lineup includes the "Eternal Calm" two-disc vinyl set and a highly focused compilation album dedicated entirely to the track "To Zanarkand."

The vinyl collection includes 20 tracks selected from the original game. The records are pressed on water-clear discs meant to evoke the game's aquatic themes. It includes new jacket artwork drawn by character designer Tetsuya Nomura. The set will cost 9,350 yen (roughly $59) and includes a digital download code for the MP3s, just in case you want the giant artwork but do not actually own a record player.

An early PS2 flex

The PS2 launched in March 2000 in Japan, and Final Fantasy X hit shelves in July 2001. It was a relatively early release for the system, yet it completely defined the console's technical ceiling for years.

Square Product Development Division 1 used that new hardware to introduce fully three-dimensional environments and voice acting to the main series for the first time. The shift away from pre-rendered backgrounds changed how the studio directed cutscenes. The developers could finally use dynamic camera angles and complex facial animations. They also swapped out the traditional Active Time Battle system for the Conditional Turn-Based format. This new system let players swap party members mid-fight. The team also introduced the massive Sphere Grid for leveling.

Tracking the ports

The game first launched as a standard PS2 release, followed shortly by an "International" version in 2002 that added new superbosses like the Dark Aeons and a completely different Sphere Grid layout. Then came the HD Remaster era. Square Enix brought the game to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2013 with cross-save support.

They followed up with a PlayStation 4 port in 2015, a PC release in 2016, and finally Nintendo Switch and Xbox One editions in 2019. This release is different because it focuses entirely on the analog preservation of the original score, rather than trying to upscale Tidus's face one more time.

15 versions of one song

The music itself was a major turning point for the franchise. This was the first time series veteran Nobuo Uematsu collaborated with other composers. He brought in Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano to help shoulder the massive workload. The resulting soundtrack has a distinct, atmospheric sound that separates it from the PlayStation 1 era.

The second item in the anniversary lineup honors that legacy in a very specific way. The "To Zanarkand Compilation Album" is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of 15 different arrangements of the exact same song.

The tracklist pulls from 25 years of history, including the original PS2 soundtrack, the Piano Collections, orchestral albums, and various tribute concerts. It is a laser-focused product for a dedicated type of fan.

The music of Spira has held up remarkably well over the last two and a half decades. Pressing it on clear vinyl feels like a fitting tribute to a game that spent half its runtime underwater.