Above you see the contents of the Collector’s Edition package for Ubisoft’s Might and Magic Heroes VII. Released last month, it includes a 90-page artbook of drawings from the game’s development, a giant figure of one of the characters, the full soundtrack, lithographs, customized tarot cards and exclusive in-game DLC. The box has everything except….discs to play the game on. Whoops!
Thing is…..it was intentional. Ubisoft had intended to provide a digital code instead, despite communicating nothing about that plan in any of the game’s marketing. In fact, you can see the game’s box on the lefthand side of the above picture, clearly implying it is included. There’s also a DVD-ROM icon there…seemingly for no reason.
If that wasn’t misleading enough, the soundtrack is also digital, yet there’s a CD and slipcover shown here. The advertising was clearly misleading, and that sort of thing can be grounds for a class-action lawsuit. Ubisoft is attempting to pacify the angry crowd.
“We understand that some customers in North America were not aware the Collector’s Edition delivered digital versions of the game and soundtrack,” the company wrote in a statement. “Ubisoft apologizes for any frustration and disappointment resulting from these items being in digital format vs. physical format.”
There was similar outrage when the deluxe version of Halo 5 was announced without a disc in it (but Microsoft was open about that, and is now offering a free disc to those who ask). What should be coming clear to game publishers now is that when people buy deluxe editions of games, they expect physical copies. If someone’s making a heavy investment, they want it to last beyond the single machine they’re playing it on.
Ubisoft is now offering a complete refund for the game, plus a free digital PC game from their library.
[Source: PC Mag]
