Sony’s God of War Laufey Collector Box Excludes Game Copy, Sparking Backlash

Key points

• The God of War Laufey Collector Box costs around $130 but does not include a copy of the game or a download code.
• The box contains a light-up resin statue of Faye, a 51-card Oracle deck, and a mini art book.
• This exclusion is deliberate, contrasting with the 2023 God of War Ragnarok edition, which accidentally omitted download codes.
• God of War Laufey is a PS5 exclusive and will have a physical disc release, unlike the digital-only GTA 6 collector's edition.
• The game is scheduled for release on February 16, 2027.

Background

Pre-orders for God of War Laufey opened in late September 2026, detailing standard and Digital Deluxe editions. The game is set to launch on PS5 in February 2027. Recent industry trends have seen major titles, such as GTA 6, release collector's editions that exclude the game itself, often to avoid forcing players to purchase the game twice.

How outlets are covering it

Kotaku criticizes the practice as 'deranged' and notes that since Laufey is a PS5 exclusive, there is no multi-platform cost-saving justification for excluding the game. Tech4Gamers highlights the backlash, noting the box is priced at $170 in some regions, while Gameranx points out that unlike GTA 6, Laufey has a physical disc version, making the exclusion of the game from the collector's box even more puzzling. All sources agree that this is a deliberate business decision rather than an error like the one seen with God of War Ragnarok in 2023.

Why it matters

This move highlights a growing trend in the gaming industry where collector's editions are sold as merchandise-only items, forcing consumers to pay extra for the game itself. It raises questions about consumer value and the justification for such pricing structures, especially for exclusive titles with physical releases.

What to watch

The U.S. pricing for the Collector Box is yet to be announced, but it is expected to follow the UK's £130 price point. The game itself will release on February 16, 2027, and consumers will need to purchase the game separately to play it.