We received the exciting news on Thursday that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is scheduled for release on October 31, along with details on how to preorder it. Similar to most AAA studio releases, there are various editions available for purchase, ranging from a standard edition with the game and a preorder bonus to a deluxe edition with an array of cosmetics.
Interestingly, BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts are offering special editions that include The Veilguard merchandise. However, unlike typical special editions, these packages do not include a copy of the game.
These exclusive packages, known as “physical item bundles,” contain only physical items. The largest offering is the Rook’s Coffer edition priced at $150. The standout item in this set is the illuminated Lyrium Dagger replica, accompanied by a card deck, an enchanted D12 die, a glass potion flask, a cloth map and quiver, a companion lithograph, and a thank you letter from the developers.
Additionally, there’s the Vyrantium Pack by Scanvo, which includes a steelbook case for the physical game copy (not included in the box), a metal print and magnet wall mount, a notebook, and a collector’s outerbox. No pricing details are provided.
The rationale behind these offerings is clear. While some consumers may prefer the merchandise, especially if they already own the game or can obtain a copy separately, these physical item bundles are still expensive compared to collector’s editions when factoring in the cost of purchasing the game separately (as most consumers would do when preordering). Moreover, there are purchasing restrictions in place to prevent scalping, such as only allowing the purchase of the Rook’s Coffer edition on its own without combining it with other items from the BioWare store.
Furthermore, there are pricing discrepancies worth noting. The cost of The Veilguard on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S is $10 higher than the PC version, regardless of whether it’s digital or physical, deluxe or standard edition.
For example, purchasing the Rook’s Coffer edition along with a console copy of the game would come to $220. While this price is slightly higher than other collector’s editions, such as the $280 Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition from GameStop or the $130 Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition, which only includes digital items and three-day early access. These physical editions of The Veilguard underscore the increasing complexity of video game release pricing for consumers.
