Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 16, one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming PS5 games of the year, is almost upon us and the developer is going hard on FF16, the latest entry in the Final Fantasy series. Throughout launch, incredible Renaissance-inspired ads are popping up around Japan showing Final Fantasy 16 and it’s Eikons like never before. However, FF16’s unique marketing isn’t limited to Osaka and Shibuya. Square Enix is bringing something special to London, England. You’re going to be able to see a real replica of Clive’s sword in the Tower of London for the next month. Yes, the real Tower of London.
On June 20, Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy 16 fans will be able to check out a real replica of Clive Rosfield’s sword in the Tower of London – a historical landmark and royal museum on the bank of the River Thames in the City of London – until July 19, 2023. Created and hosted in partnership with the Royal Armouries, the museum that actually houses the UK’s national collection of arms and armors, Invictus (the name of Clive’s big sword) is going to be on display and available for fans to see with general admission. So, it really is going to be part of the museum for the next month.
Incredibly, and not at all surprisingly, this is the first time a videogame sword has been housed in the Tower; it will feature alongside Henry VIII’s tournament armor, Charles I and James II’s gilded ceremonial armors, and even the Crown Jewels. When you think about how invaluable some of these historical pieces are, it’s quite incredible to think that a sword from a game is going to be in and amongst them – even if it might be shaping up to be one of the best PS5 RPG games ever.
If you want to see a Beefeater (yes, that’s what they’re actually called) with Clive’s Invictus, you can below:
Commenting on this rather unusual admission to the museum’s collection, the keeper of Tower Armouries Emma Mawdsley has said that “it’s thrilling to see the historic art form of sword crafting continue to thrive in the videogame space, and what better way to celebrate this than by displaying this exclusive sword alongside the Royal Armouries’ collection of arms and armor”.
“We are always looking at ways to engage new audiences with our collections,” she added, “so we’re very excited to welcome fans of the franchise and gamers alike to the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London”.
Crafted by renowned swordsmith Tod Todeschini, Invictus was forged using a blend of traditional techniques and more modern methods to create an accurate replica of the sword we’ll all see Clive wield in-game. In this press release, Square Enix has explained that the lower part of the blade was “ground from solid steel using belt finishers and hand grinders”, while the upper part of the blade was made from “two hollow shells, then welded together”. This sword is going to be heavy, but should be easy enough to swing with a lighter tip. Although, you’re not going to be able to get hands-on if you do visit the Tower of London and check it out.
Todeschini “knew from the very start [that] this was not going to be an ordinary sword” to forge, but that hasn’t stopped him bringing the weapon of one of the most important Final Fantasy 16 characters to life.
The Final Fantasy 16 release date is almost upon us, and the file size is going to be one worth keeping an eye on if you’re planning to play. However, when you look at all the bosses you’ll be going toe-to-toe with, it’ll be worth it. If you’re looking for a few bonuses, you should check out the Final Fantasy 16 pre-orders available, too. There’s still time to pick one up and kick-start your adventure in Valisthea.