PlayStation’s Disappearing Boxed Games: 5 Collector Editions With CDs
As PlayStation edges closer to an imminent shift away from physical retail, collectors are being forced to face an uncomfortable reality: the era of owning boxed games—and snagging the kind of deluxe, disk-included packages that only PlayStation used to do so well—is starting to disappear. For players who still want that tangible “this is mine” feeling, it’s worth looking back at some of the standout collector editions that came with a disc release, because these are the items fans say they probably won’t see again in the same form.
Five PlayStation collector editions that came with a disc (and why fans still chase them)
One of the richest packages in PlayStation history arrived with The Last of Us Part 2. The Ellie Edition was priced at $249.99 and leaned hard into character detail. It replicated Ellie’s backpack at real size, included a replica of her bracelet, and also came with a mini artbook, an Ellie figurine, a lithograph, and a steelbook case. The edition further added a vinyl release of the game’s soundtrack, digital bonuses, and additional collectible items. It also launched as an exclusive for North America.
Death Stranding took a very different route, but its collector edition is often remembered as one of the strongest “Kojima-style” releases on PlayStation. Sold at €199.99, it came with a presentation case shaped like merchandise, plus a steelbook case. The main draw for many fans, though, was a replica of BB, which has since become a coveted item among people who loved the game’s strange, divisive premise.
For long-running franchise fans, God of War delivered a collector package tied to the 2018 reboot’s release. The Stone Mason Edition cost $149.99 and filled its contents with collector-focused extras: a Kratos and Atreus figurine, exclusive lithography and a steelbook, a woven map, mini figurines, and keychains—presented as a proper “collect them all” set. Like several of these deluxe releases, it was limited to North American buyers.
During the PS4 era, Ghost of Tsushima became a magnet for premium physical editions, and its collector version leaned into the game’s atmosphere. The Ghost of Tsushima Collector Edition was priced at €189.99 and included display-ready collectibles such as the Masque Sakai on its exhibition stand. Fans also got a fabric map of Tsushima’s island and a replica of the Sashimono war banner, alongside the kind of steelbook case collector buyers expect. The package also included multiple digital bonuses.
Finally, Horizon Zero Dawn proved that a collector edition doesn’t have to be packed with every possible trinket to feel premium—object quality is what mattered. Its collector package was priced at €129.99 and centered on a statuette of Aloy. It also included an exclusive steelbook case, a small artbook with 48 pages, and in-game bonuses. For many players, that artbook detail is precisely the sort of physical add-on that’s becoming harder to find in modern releases.
With PlayStation’s physical future becoming less certain, these disc-included collector editions stand out as a snapshot of how big-name releases used to treat collectors: lavish, character-driven, and filled with items designed to sit on shelves—not just in downloads. For fans hoping to hold onto that history, the best strategy may be to revisit what already exists and recognize just how rare this kind of package has become.
