The threat of a digital-only market only continues to loom as more & more players find the availability to purchase new titles further slimming. From companies like Xbox, it has been segueing towards this in recent time. It is even discovered as per its most recent showcase held this month that new release like Ninja Gaiden 4, Gears of War: Reloaded, and The Outer Worlds 2 will not be provided physically for its own platform.
And, this has been an ongoing trend for roughly a decade concerning select Collector’s Editions. Previously, Halo 5: Guardians featured a steelbook release that only provided a digital copy in the $150 bundle. Additionally, this issue has only continued with newer releases like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 late last year as well as Avowed which released in a similar state this past winter.
What doesn’t help that PlayStation & Nintendo are also beginning to lean in this direction with the PlayStation 5 Pro offering no disc drive in-box and the introduction of Game-Key Cards respectively. Now, the approaching lineup of releases for PlayStation 5 later this year will not feature a physical game in its Collector’s Edition. Both Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach are the latest examples.
“This packed edition includes all of the pre-order bonuses, all in-game items from the Digital Deluxe Edition, and a digital copy of the game3, as well as a replica display edition of Atsu’s Ghost mask,” the description for the Ghost of Yotei Collector’s Edition reads. It is priced at $249.99. The Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Collector’s Edition while priced at a cheaper $229.99 is no different only providing a “Full Game Digital Download” as well.
While the physical version is still available at its base price of $79.99 for both games, titles that are affected full are being saved by third-party distributors instead. For Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the game never launched with a physical release. But, Limited Run Games will be minting Xbox Series X & PlayStation 5 discs later this summer. You can read the full report by heading here.
Are you surprised by the growing number of digital codes in Collector’s Editions?
Source: PlayStation Blog, (1)
