Everyone has been eagerly waiting for this, and the collector's edition of GTA 6has finally broken cover, though the general reception from players is rather mixed. Despite being a special package that carries great weight as a limited release, it completely fails to include the actual game title or a download code inside. Facing this absurd situation where a game collector's edition lacks the actual game itself, gamers are Diablo 4reminding everyone of a classic oxymoron once again.

Particular criticism has been directed at the price tag of this collector's edition. Of course, some argue that the unit cost is somewhat justifiable given the decent quality of the merch and its collectible value, thanks to collaborations with famous brands like Oakley sunglasses and New Era snapbacks. However, considering the fundamental purpose of fans buying a special edition to celebrate and play the game, a configuration that entirely leaves out the game leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

So, why do we keep seeing 'game-less game collector's editions'? It is probably fair to view this as the byproduct of soaring package prices colliding with inflation. After all, before the official announcement, rumors were swirling that the standard edition of GTA 6 might cross the 100,000 KRW mark just to recoup astronomical development costs. Given that a collector's edition needs to pack in various merch while maintaining a price point that still tickles a gamer's purchasing impulse, we end up with this bizarre setup where the game is quietly shown the exit.

Still, pulling off such a trick chips away at the trust built up between publishers and players over the years. If this collector's edition had simply dropped under the banner of a 'merch package', would there have been this much backlash? For a long time, the terms 'collector's edition' and 'limited edition' have firmly meant a special package where you get both the game and the merch together. Slap the label of a 'collector's edition' onto something that could easily be billed as launch merch, and it feels nothing short of deceptive. It really feels like the sort of issue that deserves continuous pointing out and protest so that this nonsense doesn't become the new normal.