A purchase for the ultimate fan
It seems like there are more Collector’s Editions than ever these days. Just in the past few months, I’ve covered the release of Disco Elysium and Spiritfarer‘s special editions alone, and there are tons and tons more that seem to be cropping up all the time. This was usually the kind of thing you’d we’d only see with AAA titles, but now our favorite indie games are getting special treatment too, and rightfully so.
If you’re buying a physical copy of anything these days, you’re usually going out of your way to do so because of how prevalent digital-only sales have become. It can already feel special to have that case sitting on your shelf, but for those diehard fans, the Collector’s Edition is the way to go. The price can be a bit of a sticking point, however, because these packages can run hundreds of dollars, depending on the game.
Even if you’re a bit skeptical, though, the studios usually always do a really good job of making sure you’re getting a good bang for your buck. The contents of these super special (and expensive) releases usually come with a range of all kinds of goodies, from art books to statues to real-life replicas of in-game items. Some of the coolest items I’ve seen included are to-scale helmets from Doom Eternal or Fallout 4, a mini version of the house from Resident Evil VII, or the replica loot chest that came with the Collector’s Edition of Borderlands 2.
Despite how cool some of the goodies are that come along in these editions, I think I’d only be willing to shell out the cash for the games that are most special to me. The only one available right now that’s tempting me is indeed Disco Elysium, considering it’s in my top three favorite games of all time, but I’m still on the fence about whether I want to spend that money right now.
As we continue to lean into digital-only purchases, it seems that this rise in Collector’s Editions is a way to get more players to buy physical copies — and spend more money in the process. I don’t have a problem with this at all, especially since studios often make their special editions feel like love letters to fans. However, you also have to be wary of less-than-satisfactory bundles, like that of Fallout 76 or The Witcher 3, for example.
Thankfully disappointing Collector’s Editions seem like less common occurrences, but after being burned in the past, I’m definitely skeptical when I’m going to spend that much money. That is why reviews and unboxing videos exist after all, which I have to remind myself before I get consumed by the hype.
So now I arrive at the questions du jour: how much are you willing to dole out for a Collector’s Edition? Do you have any, and if so, what was your criteria for the purchase? Did it have to do with the game/property itself, or what items were actually included in the edition?
[Image Credit: twistedsymphony]
