Dig VR announces Collector's Edition with two real-life excavation machines and a trip in America that costs PS499985.95 more than the game alone

The era of extravagant, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar collector's editions seems to have passed a decade ago. But a digging VR game is bringing it back with a scream.

Dig VR is a VR digging game. It will be released on November 14. It releases November 14.

Two JCB 100c-2 machines are the main attraction, each with a unique wrap. The first is a shiny, yellow excavator with Dig VR, instead of the JCB Logo, on it. The second has Ashville AGGREGATE, an aggregate company, on it. This price does not include delivery, so you'll have to pay for that yourself. That means customs duties and import taxes if your home is outside the UK. If you are in a hurry to get it (for whatever reason), it may take up to 6 months to arrive.

You also get a tour of JCB and a visit to "dig this", a heavy equipment playground in Las Vegas. A Meta Quest 3 is included with a code to play the game.

It's a common practice in gaming to market games through expensive collectors' editions. However, this has become less common in the past ten years. Here's a list of the most iconic games:

• Saint's Row: Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition that includes plastic surgery and a Lamborghini (which Ars Technica noted wasn't an excellent deal).
• Dying Light: My Apocalypse Edition includes a "Custom-built zombie-proof shelter".
• Grid 2 Mono Edition comes with a supercar that can reach 170 mph

In a discussion with several PR representatives, it was explained that the decline of this type of marketing is partly due to the rise of digital gaming and the lower production costs of digital-only content as compared to, say, an Excavator.

For some, it's easier and more cost-effective for them to market through other means. Ironically, marketing is less dependent on these big editions and they have more impact when they are released.

Dig VR with its excavator goodies has also enticed me. It's the sticker book that I'm really after.