God of War Ragnarok is decidedly staying true to its initial promise of a release window this year as its new release date of November 9 is finally announced. Santa Monica Studio may be choosing to keep other key details about God of War Ragnarok’s narrative under wraps until that release date draws nearer, especially since it is only four months away.
However, official marketing can now finally begin as a final release date has hopefully been locked down. God of War Ragnarok preceded its release date announcement with a tonal CGI trailer that depicts Kratos and Atreus in the midst of Fimbulwinter. The trailer ends on Fenrir, whose inclusion would seemingly mark an interesting connection to Atreus’ Loki depending on how closely God of War Ragnarok adapts its Norse mythology source material. Now, all special editions for God of War Ragnarok have been revealed, with two of them having some alarming caveats to their content.
God of War Ragnarok’s Collector’s and Jotnar Editions Don’t Include Physical Game Copies With Their Steelbooks
God of War Ragnarok’s Standard Edition, Launch Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Collector’s Edition, and Jotnar Edition have all been detailed intimately with regard to what each is composed of. Fans get an early look at a couple of the armor cosmetics players will be able to unlock early through some of these purchases, though they will also be accessible and unlockable throughout the game if those editions had not been purchased.
Most editions come with a physical collectible or piece of memorabilia as well as some downloadable content, such as digital downloads for the game itself or God of War Ragnarok’s official digital soundtrack. The Collector’s and Jotnar Editions of God of War Ragnarok are the most luxurious of the options listed due to its exclusive items, which include a 16-inch Mjolnir replica and a Dwarven dice set.
These editions also include Steelbook display cases for the game; however, while many fans may instantly expect for these Steelbooks to come with a hard physical copy of God of War Ragnarok, they would be disappointed to learn that they will not. Rather, the Collector’s and Jotnar Editions will strangely only offer digital downloads for God of War Ragnarok on PS4 and PS5, meaning that the Steelbooks customers receive will be empty.
The cases are then seemingly for display purposes only, unless fans decide to also procure physical copies of the game at some point to occupy them. But fans who believed that a physical copy would be attached to their Steelbooks included in these editions will be sorely mistaken.
God of War Ragnarok’s Collector’s and Jotnar Editions Are Still a Treat for Collector's Enthusiasts
The lack of a physical copy with a Steelbook is easily the strangest choice made in terms of the content included in any of these editions. Of course, fans who typically opt for editions with more collectibles will be pleased to learn how many pieces of physical memorabilia are included in the Collector’s and Jotnar Editions.
The aforementioned Mjolnir replica is surely the most prized possession of the lot, but fans may also indulge in the Knowledge Keeper’s Shrine chest itself, as well as two-inch Vanir Twins Carvings. Further, physical content that fans who purchase the Jotnar Edition will be treated to include a seven-inch vinyl record with music by Bear McCreary, the Legendary Draupnir Ring, Brok’s dice set, a Yggdrasil cloth map, and a Falcon, Bear, and Wolf pin set.
All the content in each of these editions represents something from the game, whether it is meant to be referential on the surface level or through a much more obscure cut that fans may not realize until they have played the game. Either way, the fact that God of War Ragnarok will feature two different Collector’s Editions is a treat for fans who are devoted to the franchise and God of War’s final Norse entry in particular.
Though they both include a lot of the same memorabilia, there is reason enough for fans to want to purchase one and not the other. Still, the Steelbook decision is one that may upset fans based on traditional expectations of what a Steelbook entails.
God of War Ragnarok is set to release November 9, 2022, for PS4 and PS5.