Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition Controversy, Explained

Everything you need to know about the Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition controversy and why fans are displeased with its offerings.

Death Stranding 2’s most recent trailer and release date announcement surprised a number of fans worldwide. The rather lengthy cinematic/gameplay trailer was received quite well by players, hyping them up for the upcoming pre-orders and the game’s eventual June 2025 release. However, there was still one announcement that received quite a bit of flack from players, and that was the Collector’s Edition.

Although the physical goodies included in the Collector’s Edition, especially the Megallan Man statue, are quite impressive and worth the asking price, the Collector’s Edition is lacking in other key areas. Not only does the Collector’s Edition not come with a physical disc, but it also doesn’t include a Steelbook. This lack of physical media is the primary cause of concern for many players.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition controversy and why fans are displeased with the version.

What Is the Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition Controversy?

Not gonna lie, seeing no physical disk/steelbook and art cards rather than a physical artbook really sucks… with that being said the statue looks sick. I doubt we'll get a separate release though.

— LABEL_828 (@LABEL_828) March 14, 2025

Death Stranding 2’s Collector’s Edition comes with some really cool physical goodies, including a 15″ Megallan Man statue, a 3″ Dollman figure, art cards, and more. However, the version does not include the staple of any Collector’s Edition – the Steelbook.

Collector’s Editions are usually targeted at enthusiasts, who prefer to pay extra, not only for the physical goodies but also for a physical copy of the game. The Steelbook is something many fans, especially collectors, prefer to keep in their collection, more so if they’re paying upwards of $200 for a game. Most Collector’s Editions, even the ones that don’t come with a physical disc, at least offer a Steelbook, but not Death Stranding 2.

This is a trend that seems to be stemming from PlayStation’s push towards a more “digital-only” ecosystem. Most PlayStation first-party exclusives of the last couple of years released their Collector’s Editions without a physical disc copy of the game. This was a concern raised by fans for Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. However, despite not featuring a disc, the Collector’s Editions of these titles at least featured a Steelbook, complete with unique artwork.

Although, understandably, most casual players aren’t bothered by the lack of a physical disc. After all, digital versions are much easier to access and do not come with the hassle of requiring “shelf space.” However, the Collector’s Editions, by definition, aren’t geared towards the casual player base. Instead, it’s targeted towards “collectors” and “enthusiasts.” And most collectors who are willing to pay extra for a physical version of a game prefer a disc (along with a Steelbook) over a digital code.

What Is Included in Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition?

Here’s everything included in the Death Stranding 2 Collector’s Edition:

Collector’s Edition ($229.99)

• Base game
• Pre-order bonuses
• Deluxe Edition content
• Collector’s Box
• 15” Magellan Man Statue
• 3” Dollman figurine
• Art cards
• Letter from Hideo Kojima

In addition to the physical goodies, the Collector’s Edition comes with the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game. Furthermore, there’s also the pre-order bonus, which is available for pre-purchasing Death Stranding 2 ahead of its release date. Additionally, the Collector’s Edition is only available via PlayStation Direct, in selected regions across the globe. Following are the pre-order bonuses for Death Stranding 2:

• Quokka Hologram
• Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
• Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
• Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

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