Ubisoft UK collector’s editions going discless on Xbox, but not PlayStation

The collector’s edition packages for three of Ubisoft’s biggest upcoming games will no longer come with the game on a physical disc for U.K.-based customers — on Xbox, that is. The PlayStation versions will still include disc copies.

“Pre-orders for Collector’s Editions of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6 and Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox will receive a digital key to redeem, instead of a physical disc,” reads a post on Ubisoft’s U.K. support site.

“Collector’s Editions for PlayStation will receive physical game discs,” it continues.

Since a video game collector’s edition is generally seen as a way to get one’s hands on a wealth of physical goodies, the idea that such a package won’t come with a physical copy of the game may be puzzling to a lot of, well, collectors. Add in the high price tag of bundles like these — the ones for Valhalla and Far Cry 6 will run you $199.99, while Legion’s is set at a thrifty $189.99 — and that confusion can rise to anger and disappointment.

Many fans may already have pre-ordered Watch Dogs: Legion, which is scheduled to be released Oct. 29. Likewise for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which is set to debut Nov. 17. Far Cry 6, while somewhat further out, also has a concrete release date of Feb. 18, 2021. All three games are coming to Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

Polygon has reached out to Ubisoft to ask why Ubisoft has made this change on Xbox and not PlayStation. We’ll update this story with any information we receive.

Update: A Ubisoft representative clarified to Polygon that this change does not apply for customers in North America; in that region, Ubisoft’s collector’s editions will still include a physical disc copy of the game on all platforms. We’ve edited the article to reflect this.