When it comes to video game releases, bigger titles and launches tend to come with a variety of video game editions. You’ll often find a premium collector’s edition that comes with a variety of goodies such as a statute to prominently display on your shelf or a collection of in-game items. Most often these collector’s editions go out without a hitch, but there are a few prime examples for developers and publishers to avoid for their future video game launches. In this list, we’re going to showcase some of the more undesirable collector’s editions from over the years. Please note that these collector’s editions are not ranked and we’ll continue to update this list when more poorly released game editions launch.
#10 Dead Island Riptide
Dead Island Riptide may not be the most notable entry to the series, gamers seem to remember the first installment and forget that Dead Island Riptide was a sequel that continued the story. However, what people remember about this game was the collector’s edition. This collector’s edition actually caused quite a bit uproar that ended up with the team responsible for it to issue an apology. Back in 2013, Dead Island Riptide came out with a Zombie Bait Edition which featured a bikini-wearing torso that was mutilated to showcase an attack by zombies.
This led plenty of flack from various journalists, media and consumers. As a result, Deep Silver who was responsible for the fiberglass statuette apologized. It now makes as a more collectible piece for those units that have gone out into the market.
#9 Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 was one of the more anticipated video game titles to come out in 2018 and when it did launch, it was a rather big success. The massive crowd of gamers worldwide that enjoyed Red Dead Redemption got a new installment but this time as a prequel. Rockstar knew this game would have been rather big and as a result, it prepared a few collector’s editions for gamers to decide on if they didn’t want just the base game. However, one edition, in particular, proved to be a cash grab. I guess this edition would have been catered to those who are diehard fans of the Red Dead Redemption franchise, but it was a bit of letdown that the $100 Collector’s Box didn’t include the game.
Instead, if fans got the Collector’s Box edition they received a decorative box with various trinkets such as a puzzle, an in-game map, playing cards, pins, etc. Regardless, it received some flack online and now we’re looking back once again to point out this edition of the game as a prime example of what developers should avoid with future releases.
#8 Infamous: Second Son Collector’s Edition
The Infamous series hasn’t received too much attention lately and it could be an IP brought back for the upcoming release of the PlayStation 5. With that said, when its last installment came out, Infamous: Second Son, the main character shown off looked to be more of a rebel and that’s the inspiration developers opted for when creating the collector’s edition. It came with a copy of the game and a beanie that replicates the beanie worn by the main protagonist.
What was different about this edition that maybe was something that the marketing team didn’t fully think through was the jacket you dressed the physical copy of Infamous: Second Son. This edition gives a real small jacket that would fit over the game. It had pins and decor that again, replicated the jacket worn by the main protagonist but definitely made it a pain to add into your collection if you store it on a shelf. In fact, displaying it, in general, is kind of a pain and let’s face it, an eyesore.
#7 Wolfenstein: The New Order
MachineGames and Bethesda brought back the Wolfenstein franchise in a big way back in 2014 and it had an edition that resembled the Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Box. Essentially, the Panzerhund Edition released with a variety of trinkets though, in comparison, it was a bit fuller in terms of items compared to the Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Box. Within the edition, it comes with a statue and base, patches, replica dog tags, a steel book case, postcards, and various documents to replicate various notes and blueprints from in the game. However, while this edition set players back $100, it didn’t include a copy of the game, which again like Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Edition, this was a letdown.
#6 Fallout 76
Another slightly new video game release that makes our list is Fallout 76. This was Bethesda’s attempt at making a Fallout MMO video game where players all over the world could connect online and build up civilization in the wasteland. Being an MMO game, there was plenty of omissions that fans of the franchise would be missing out on, the biggest being really a narrative story. It’s overall a different kind of video game from the series, where players take on the role of a Vault-dweller who is tasked with rebuilding civilization rather than having an end goal. Players would freely explore, gather resources and build up settlements.
The collector’s edition of the game came with a replica helmet, some small plastic figurines, a copy of the game, and a bag to protect the helmet. When it was first advertised the edition claimed to have come with a canvas bag but instead, gamers received a cheaper nylon version. Developers stated that the costs were too high to bring out a real canvas bag but it received so much negative press and attention that Bethesda actually folded and issued replacement canvas bags to those who purchased the collector’s edition.
