God Of War Ragnarök’s $200 Collector’s Edition comes in a gold embossed box, with a 16-inch replica of Norse god Thor’s Mjölnir hammer, a set of engraved dwarven dice, downloadable cosmetics, and more. That “and more” ideally will suck out some of the sting if you, like other buyers have reported, open up your $200 box and realize that not only is there no steelbook display case, but there’s no game code, either.
This article originally ran on November 10, 2022.
My collectors edition was missing the steel book and game code. The box was sealed and that was the only item missing. pic.twitter.com/3rZ35tEDOn
— Koroshiya (@_Koroshiya) November 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/embed/status/1590366033055215618
The steelbook case, digital code combo was already annoying without this apparent manufacturing blunder. When the Ragnarök collector’s edition was announced earlier this summer, with custom items and downloadable content but no physical game to plop inside of the very expensive steelbook case, Ian Walker wrote for Kotaku that “it seems the gaming industry is becoming increasingly hostile to the concept of ownership, which can be worrisome as older online storefronts are phased out.”
So you pay a premium for physical, for the $200 cases and the $70 games, but you still might not get what you wanted. It appears that most Collector’s Edition errors involve both a missing steelbook case and game code, but one Reddit user, who has since created the Twitter account @HelpUsSMS dedicated solely to seeking rectification and compiling examples of similar errors, received two codes for the same in-game cosmetics instead of one cosmetic code and one game code. And thus far, the lack of perceived urgency in Sony’s efforts to resolve these issues is only leading to more frustration.
“Were you able to get this resolved?” another user asked them.
“In 5-7 days apparently,” they responded.
But according to those who have received a response, Sony’s help is lacking. One Collector’s Edition buyer, who also wrongly received two cosmetics codes, posted on Twitter a screenshot of a Sony customer service rep saying “we do not sell [the Collector’s Edition] ourselves. The retailer is responsible for this.” But other jilted buyers said that, when they asked for help, retailers only sent them the link to Sony’s contact page
I literally made my first twitter account to try and get their attention since they’re customer service reps are complete assholes
— Anthony Perez (@Anthony38522781) November 13, 2022
This is really starting to upset me @GameStopHelp @Sony @AskPlayStation @AskPlayStation @corybarlog @HelpUsSMS @SonySantaMonica @gamestop@FTC @bbb_us
I paid $259.99 for the Jotnar edition, and another $75 for a physical PS5 copy due to my missing codes. I want resolution!
— TheJncoKid (@TheJncoKid) November 13, 2022
While Sony and its retailers chase each other in circles, Ragnarök director Cory Barlog is apparently taking remediation into his own hands.
“Did you get any response or a code yet?” he says in a DM one Collector’s Edition buyer posted to Twitter. Then he provides the buyer a code.
Thank you @corybarlog sincerely thank you, at the very least I can enjoy what I know to be a great game. hopefully we can get this all cleared up for everyone 💙 pic.twitter.com/9mJ3U1Ub1T
— J 💎 (@KingsCompanyy) November 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/embed/status/1591514088198524928
Barlog and Sony did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But if Barlog has appointed himself the God of Customer Relations, there are limits to what one person can do to solve a large and costly manufacturing problem.
“I don’t want people thinking just because @corybarlog helped out a few of us, the fight isn’t over,” @HelpUsSMS wrote on Twitter on November 13. “There are still many people who need their games, and it’s @Sony/@AskPlayStation’s responsibility.”
