Game editions explained

Most big game releases come in several editions at once, and the names rarely tell you exactly what you get. A "Deluxe" edition from one publisher can include a season pass, while another publisher's Deluxe edition only adds a few cosmetic items. Before you pay extra, it helps to know what each type of edition usually means and which details to check in the listing.

Standard edition#

The standard edition is the base game on its own: a disc or cartridge in a case, or a download licence for one platform. It is the reference point for every other edition, so start with its price and then ask what the extra money buys.

Watch for a few variations:

• Launch or first-print editions are usually the standard game with a small extra, such as a code for an in-game item, available while the first production run lasts. The game itself is the same.
• Complete, definitive or "game of the year" editions appear later and bundle the base game with downloadable content released since launch. They are often the better deal if you didn't buy at launch, but check which expansions are actually included.
• Budget re-releases can come in different packaging, and sometimes only part of the content is on the disc, with the rest as a download.

Deluxe and premium editions#

Deluxe, Premium, Gold, Ultimate: the names vary, but these editions usually add digital content to the standard game. Common extras are:

• a season pass or expansion pass for downloadable content that has been announced but is not always released yet;
• cosmetic items such as outfits, weapon skins or vehicle designs;
• a digital artbook or soundtrack;
• in-game currency;
• early access, meaning you can start playing a few days before the official release date.

Two details matter most. First, a season pass pays for content that may arrive months or even years after you buy, and its exact contents are not always final. Second, check how early access works for the version you buy: for physical copies it is often delivered as a code, and the disc itself may not arrive before the official release date.

When a deluxe edition is sold as a physical product, the extras almost always come as a code in the box. The disc holds the base game.

Collector's editions#

Collector's editions add physical items: a statue or figure, a printed artbook, a map, pins, a steelbook case or a large display box. They are made in smaller quantities and cost considerably more than the standard edition.

Check three things before you order one:

1. Is the game included? Some collector's editions contain a download code instead of a disc, and a few contain no game at all. The listing or the publisher's product page should say so.
2. Which platform is it for? The physical items are often identical across platforms, but the game or code inside is not.
3. What if the box arrives damaged? Collector's editions are bulky and sometimes get damaged in transit. If the packaging matters to you, read the store's conditions for returning damaged or opened boxes.

What "limited" can and cannot mean#

"Limited edition" has no fixed meaning. It can describe:

• a numbered production run, sometimes with the quantity printed on the box or on a certificate;
• an edition that is only sold during a certain period, for example until release day;
• an edition that one store or region sells exclusively;
• simply a marketing name, with no stated quantity or end date.

Only the first two tell you something about scarcity, and only when the publisher or store actually states the quantity or the period. A "limited" label on its own does not mean the edition will sell out or gain value. If scarcity matters to you, look for a stated quantity or sales window from an official source.

Steelbooks and store bonuses#

A steelbook is a metal case that replaces the standard plastic case. It can be part of a special edition, a pre-order bonus at one store, or a separate item sold without a game. Listings don't always make this clear, so check whether the steelbook comes with the game, and whether it is guaranteed or only available while stocks last.

Store bonuses in general, such as posters, keyrings or in-game items, belong to one store's offer, not to the edition itself. The same edition can come with a bonus at one store and without it at another.

Digital upgrades#

Many games let you upgrade from the standard edition to a deluxe edition later by buying an upgrade pack in the platform's online store. That can be a sensible way to start cheaper: you only pay for the extras once you know you like the game.

Upgrade packs don't exist for every game, edition or platform, and some extras, such as early access, lose their value after release. Don't count on an upgrade unless the publisher lists one for your platform.

Why editions are compared separately#

Editions of the same game are different products. They have different contents, prices, stock and sometimes different release timing, and each usually has its own EAN barcode. Comparing a standard edition at one store with a collector's edition at another tells you nothing useful, and a low "from" price for a game can hide that it belongs to the cheapest edition.

That is why a price comparison only makes sense per exact edition, platform and format, physical or digital. The difference between those formats is explained in physical vs digital games.

How Pluksy helps#

• Every edition has its own product page with its own store comparison, so prices and stock always refer to the same contents.
• Where the official contents are known, the Compare editions table on a game's product page lists what each edition includes side by side, with the lowest price per edition. Store bonuses are shown with the store that offers them, not as part of the edition.
• The version picker on a product page switches between editions, platforms and physical or digital versions, with a price for each option that has offers.
• Sort offers on total price or estimated delivery, and filter on pre-orders when a game isn't out yet. Read how pre-orders work for what to check before you order.