Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes in a $150 "edition" that doesn't include the game. However, you do get Rook's shiny sword.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard, no matter what you think, is bound to be the most exciting game this year. It started with a trailer that few liked, followed by a gameplay demonstration that people were okay with and then a second, cooler, trailer which people liked a little more. "Divisive" is the buzzword of the day.

It continues to offer a mixed-feeling by offering a $150 version that doesn’t include a game. There's also an art book with three sub-editions that doesn’t include a game. Plus, a "Vyrantium pack" that appears to be unpriced, but doesn't contain the game. It has a good case, though.

According to this blog post on the EA site, there are currently a plethora of packs and bundles available for The Veilguard, two of which include the key needed to play the game. The standard and deluxe versions ($60 and $80- respectively) both include keys. But everything else here must stress to buyers repeatedly that these are cosmetic supplements.

The first is Rook's Coffer or, as the copy confusely calls it, "'Rook's Coffer' edition (Does NOT Include Game)", which comes with a 22-inch glow dagger, a card deck, a potion syringe, and a dice for $150.

The Vyrantium Pack is currently unpriced and includes a steelbook case that contains the game but not, a metallic print and a notebook. There's also a book of art that comes in three different editions: standard ($50),deluxe ($100) and Bioware ($55), the latter of which offers extra prints, a slipcase and a new cover.

It's possible to buy Dragon Age: The Veilguard for $250 (if you take into account the most expensive art book) before buying the game. This is without the Vyrantium Pack which, for an undisclosed price, will make you feel like you own Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You can stare lovingly at its shiny case.

This whole thing seems a bit bizarre, but I don't think it's any more scummy than usual. Look at it. EA is trying to sell you a glut fantasy crap that's aimed at players with money and shelf space to spare. In terms of decoupling this game from these editions though, I am not sure how much I care.

The digital deluxe edition plus the Rook's coffer will cost you $230. Yes, it's outrageously expensive but that's the whole point of collectors editions. Comparatively, the World of Warcraft: The War Within collector's version costs around $180. It includes the expansion, digital goodies, pins, neat boxes, and an artwork book.

This is all to say that this is mostly business-as-usual, with the only thing that makes me sneer being the deluxe version and its cosmetics that are locked behind a cash gate. It's divided up in an interesting, if not confusing way. I wonder if EA could have sold all of this separately in a merchandise store.