Deluxe editions are one of the most annoying things in the gaming world
27/1/2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
With Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Sega combines essential content with paid deluxe upgrades. They’re not the only publisher doing this. Pretty annoying.
Alongside battle passes and loot boxes, deluxe editions are one of the most irritating things in the gaming world. Publishing differently priced editions of a game may be lucrative for publishers. For gaming fans, it’s a major annoyance.
The Like a Dragon community is currently up in arms about Sega’s questionable release tactics. It’s a pity,because the game itself is excellent.
Essential content is ripped out of the game
Sega is releasing Infinite Wealth in three editions: Standard (70 francs or euros), Deluxe (85 francs or euros) and Ultimate (110 francs or euros). In itself, this is nothing special – except perhaps for the exorbitant price of the Ultimate Edition.
What is unusual, however, is that Sega is tying the New Game Plus mode to the more expensive Deluxe version. For many Like a Dragon fans this game mode is an essential part of the game. But it gets worse: Xbox and PC players can’t unlock all achievements with the standard version because some of them are tied to the New Game Plus mode. Ouch.
Source: Domagoj Belancic
Even though I personally don’t care too much about New Game Plus, I find it alarming that essential content is being ripped from the original game and packed into more expensive versions. It starts with New Game Plus. Before you know it you’ll be paying for the «right ending» to the next Like a Dragon game. But these are by no means the only concerns I have about all the deluxe and ultimate editions.
More nonsense: play earlier and save time
The most expensive Ultimate version of Infinite Wealth includes items that significantly speed up the flow of the game in two major side activities. This means I spend less time playing the game and get to the end quicker – another thing about many deluxe upgrades that gets on my nerves.
Source: Domagoj Belancic
Other publishers with similar items have also triggered discussions. In Borderlands 3 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey there were XP boosters in the deluxe version, which the game character levels up faster with. Spider-Man 2 gave out skill points for the superhero in the more expensive edition. None of this makes any sense. How absurd is it to offer a DLC that helps me spend less time playing a game? We should be enjoying the journey.
Another popular bonus for deluxe upgrades are earlier release dates. For example, if you spent more money on Hogwart’s Legacy, Baldur’s Gate III or Starfield last year, you could play the games a few days before everyone else. This is frustrating for players of the standard editions and it means that massive spoilers are already circulating on the net before the official launch – as was the case with the first example mentioned.
Source: WB Games
Confusion over content
Apart from the fact that the contents of deluxe versions drive me up the wall, I’m also allergic to the way they’re communicated. Take a look at the upgrade image for Infinite Wealth:
Apart from the fact that the overview is a visual disaster, it’s deliberately vague. So you don’t know for certain what additional content you’re actually getting. What are the «Special Boosters» in the Ultimate Edition? I don’t know, but it sounds good. What «new outfits» are included and what’s the «Bonus Dungeon»? I have no clue,but it sounds like a lot. I feel forced to go for the Ultimate Edition, otherwise I might miss out something big.
At least the upgrade graphic for Infinite Wealth is still relatively easy to understand. Take a look at this monstrosity that 505 Games has prepared for the launch of Control:
It’s probably the worst upgrade table I've come across so far. What’s particularly mean is the image above is only the PS4 version. There’s a separate version for Xbox platforms. Unbelievable.
Before buying a game, I don’t want to study an Excel spreadsheet and read accompanying articles that explain the content in detail. Games are works of art that shouldn’t be cut up into small pieces. I want to play the whole game without feeling like I’m missing out on something just because I didn’t buy the right version. But I also don’t want to spend 110 francs on a pig in a poke an Ultimate Edition just to be on the safe side.
Give me meaningful additional content
So, enough ranting. I’m not completely against deluxe versions. If more expensive editions offer me cool content that gives me real added value as a big fan, I’m in. I’m talking about digital artbooks, additional soundtracks, making-ofs, and so on. Yes, I even think cosmetic items are okay. I also like to buy physical deluxe versions. If I get a fancy steel book, physical artbooks or other goodies for the more expensive edition, I’m happy to pay more.
Source: Domagoj Belancic
But when publishers put essential game content behind a paywall, offer DLCs that change the flow of the game or publish really confusing upgrade information, I’m out. What do you make of the whole thing?
Header image: Sega
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
