Guild Wars 2

Still no confirmation on when hard copies will be available for prepurchase in the US? I guess I’ll go back to sitting on my money and twiddling my thumbs until then…

My guess is Gamestop will get copies for preorder when HoT gets a release date announced…unfortunately

I want a boxed copy as well but I understand why they don’t want to do it. It probably saves them A LOT of time and money in materials, shipping, product design, etc.

However, if the problem is you can’t/don’t want to use a credit card, do what I did and just pay for a 50$ Amazon gift card in cash at your local Target/Walmart/wherever. You will lose 1cent but at least NCSoft will email your HoT code instantly.

It took about 2 days until my pre-purchase character slot showed up in game.

Dear A-Net,

why’s there no “real(boxed)” collectors edition of HoT?
can somebody explain this bulls***?

They probably determined it would not be profitable enough. Or they just wanted to make people like you mad.

Where can I pre-order a hardcopy? Would kind of like a pretty new expansion box to take space on my shelf next to my GW2 hardcopy : \

Most official retailers have hard copies available, one I know for a fact has a hard copy is Amazon UK, and I suspect expect Amazon US will also have one available, but it might take a little searching.

Just make sure when you are ordering through retailers that it doesn’t say “online serial code”, as I reckon that will only supply you with the code, and not a physical case.

Remember, pre-ordering will garner you no bonus items. If you wish to acquire those, you will need to pre-purchase.

Good luck.

Well, I noticed gamestop sells the digital delux edition which would be fine but I have never bought anything digital from Gamestop before and it kinda makes me worry….. I prefer hardcopies but I could get some gamestop cards and buy the gamestop version. I don’t use credit cards.

Nyro.7359:

Well, I noticed gamestop sells the digital delux edition which would be fine but I have never bought anything digital from Gamestop before and it kinda makes me worry….. I prefer hardcopies but I could get some gamestop cards and buy the gamestop version. I don’t use credit cards.

I think the Gamestop editions are download only, at least from the ones I found here. Its download information from that page reads:

“Games can be downloaded directly to your PC. After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to download and install the game.”

It does also seem quite helpful in how to download it from there in case your connection is lost during the download and such, so there shouldn’t be any worry about downloading from there if you wish.

I am not a US resident, so I’m afraid I don’t know of any retailers over there that sell hard copies, so I hope that someone else on these forums will help you out in that regard. I am quite positive you have two or more months at the least to found a retailer that sells a physical copy.

Zalladi.4652:

Nyro.7359:

Well, I noticed gamestop sells the digital delux edition which would be fine but I have never bought anything digital from Gamestop before and it kinda makes me worry….. I prefer hardcopies but I could get some gamestop cards and buy the gamestop version. I don’t use credit cards.

I think the Gamestop editions are download only, at least from the ones I found here. Its download information from that page reads:

“Games can be downloaded directly to your PC. After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to download and install the game.”

It does also seem quite helpful in how to download it from there in case your connection is lost during the download and such, so there shouldn’t be any worry about downloading from there if you wish.

I am not a US resident, so I’m afraid I don’t know of any retailers over there that sell hard copies, so I hope that someone else on these forums will help you out in that regard. I am quite positive you have two or more months at the least to found a retailer that sells a physical copy.

Yeah, I just want to make sure if I “decide” to buy Digital that the retailer is trustworthy.

Nyro.7359:

Yeah, I just want to make sure if I “decide” to buy Digital that the retailer is trustworthy.

Then you need to make sure you deal with Anet authorized retailers. You can find a list here for your country:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/retailers/

You mentioned that you don’t do credit cards, but buying through the GW2 store offers PayPal as an option as well.

How in the world are stores like Walmart and target not authorized retailers? I remember the core game being purchasable at my local walmart shortly after release.

JustTrogdor.7892:

Nyro.7359:

Yeah, I just want to make sure if I “decide” to buy Digital that the retailer is trustworthy.

Then you need to make sure you deal with Anet authorized retailers. You can find a list here for your country:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/retailers/

You mentioned that you don’t do credit cards, but buying through the GW2 store offers PayPal as an option as well.

Problem is, it says Gamestop is an aythorized retailer in the usa. However I went into 3 of my areas gamestops and ALL 3 said they are not only NOT taking pre-orders or pre-purchases for the expansion but they are not even doing the digital ones in store ONLY online for the digital. So for hardcopy at least in my area that is false within an hour and a half radius.

Sorry if this was answered but I didn’t find it in my searching.

Is it possible to purchase a physical copy of HoT and still receive the pre-purchase bonuses? namely the free character slot?

Zeebok.1460:

Sorry if this was answered but I didn’t find it in my searching.

Is it possible to purchase a physical copy of HoT and still receive the pre-purchase bonuses? namely the free character slot?

Any purchase of the expansion, physical or digital, will reward the free character slot for ‘veteran’ players (having an account before January 23rd), and the additional items (including another slot) for the deluxe edition upwards.

Basically, you will be given a code when you the expansion from anywhere, and you use that code and apply it to your account to get the bonuses – all codes should give you the bonuses depending on what version of the expansion you paid for.

An example of where you can get the physical edition is from Amazon UK.

Edit: Wrong date and edited to reflect thread merge.

Ok, hopefully you are right.

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/94582027-Heart-of-Thorns-Pre-Purchase-FAQ

I only ask because this says you have to enter the code before the expansion launches.

“Free character slot
If you registered your core Guild Wars 2 game before January 23, 2015 and register a pre-purchase serial code for Heart of Thorns any time before the expansion is released, you’ll receive a free character slot! Once you apply a pre-purchase serial code, you’ll be eligible for the slot regardless of where you bought the core game.
If the serial code you used to register the core game came from a retail vendor (rather than buy.guildwars2.com or in-game) and was applied to your account between January 23, 2015 and June 16, 2015, you’ll also be eligible for a free character slot if you apply a Heart of Thorns pre-purchase serial code before the expansion release.”

Edit: Ok, so the retailer should give me a code before they send the physical box?

Also, do I really need to order from the UK to get a physical box? Seems like a lot of hoops to jump through to display my love for this game on a shelf.

Zeebok.1460:

Edit: Ok, so the retailer should give me a code before they send the physical box?

It varies depending on the retailer.

Some will only give you a serial code through your e-mail, and won’t sent any physical box/case at all. Others will send you a physical box/case with the code on a pamphlet inside the case.

With the example I gave you for Amazon UK; they should send a physical box/case with the code inside on a pamphlet, and you won’t be given the code any time prior through e-mail etc.

Zeebok.1460:

Also, do I really need to order from the UK to get a physical box? Seems like a lot of hoops to jump through to display my love for this game on a shelf.

The only official retailer Anet have given for the US is Gamestop, as to whether there are others I don’t know. And I think that the Gamestop edition is an online serial code only (though I may be wrong – I don’t live in the US so I can’t go to a local store to check).

So, have a look at the official retailer list and check their stores near you or online to see if they have anything.

Hey, I’d like to know if i purchase HoT in a retail store would i be able to add it to my main account and not the “free” account we get with it?

thanks for the help !
P.S the retail store is on different country where my family is traveling at right now, would it cause problems?

When you purchase HoT, you receive a Serial Key. You can either upgrade an existing account or create a new account.

The only thing region-based accounts differ in, is the currency used in-game to purchase Gems, etc.

Good luck.

Edit: typo

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

When you purchase HoT, you receive a Serial Key. You can either upgrade and existing account or create a new account.

The only thing region-based accounts differ in, is the currency used in-game to purchase Gems, etc.

Good luck.

Oh i see, then it would be fine thank u

Sorry ANet, but with the conversion rates at the moment, I don’t feel like paying upwards of $65 CAD for the expansion. Will I be able to buy it in Canadian stores for $50 CAD?

Thus far, there are no physical/digital edition retailers listed for Canada. This may, or may not, change at or after release.

Good luck.

Wondering fs they have a CE available at GamesCom, we will find out soon enough. So far I am still holding off buying HoT still hoping for some sort of HoT CE to become available.

Hi there,

maybe i missed something on the FAQ, if so, sorry for wasting your time

If I were to buy the boxed pre purchase(see attachment), …

…what pckage will I get, standard, deluxe or ultimate?
…will I be able to link the registry code to my existing account or is it automatically bound to the account that is included in the pre purchase box?
…is there a way to get some sort of in-game refund(gems f.e.) for the original game i would have bought twice? Since the pre purchase box includes the original game but I already bought the original game like three years ago. (not getting my hopes up on this one)

So much for that. Thanks in advance and have a nice beta-weekend

1. Standard
2. You can link it to your existing account.
3 Veteran players get an extra character slot.

Thx a lot

#stupid15charsrule

Can I pre-order the ultimate physical copy thru GameStop and still get everything it says you will if you buy the ultimate version of HOT for $100.00. Thanks.

there is no physical copy of the ultimate edition. only the Standard edition is available in a physical copy.

So I bought gw2 Heart of Thorns.
I received the box with the key in it for both the game and the expansion.
There is no cd in it, but you can get the game on your pc through the gw2 site.

However I was wondering, is there a way to get the cd, like the physical game as well?

Or as long as the game is active online you will be able to install it from this site and thus never require the physical cd of the game?

As far as I know, there is no physical CD version of Heart of Thorns; all of the physical editions I have looked over have only contained a pamphlet and a serial code.

And you are correct about your last question; you will be able to download and install the client from this official GW2 website even long after the game is no longer receiving development for new content. This is the main reason that there is a lack of physical CD’s for Heart of Thorns, but you might be able to find a CD for the core game (I don’t know for sure, and it would still need a lot of updating).

The physical HoT edition you can buy now is only the pre-purchase edition. Another standard edition will be coming after launch, which may come with a disc. Considering ArenaNet seems like they’re going digital-only however, I wouldn’t be surprised if the standard edition ends up being the same as the pre-purchase boxes.

The original standard edition came with a disc, but you had to install it manually to actually use what was on it. By default, it would simply download the game. Even when you manually installed it, it was only worth about half the game.

Yashuoa.9527:

Or as long as the game is active online you will be able to install it from this site and thus never require the physical cd of the game?

As long as the game is online, the download will remain available. That’s how all online games work.

Okay, we got a release date now.
Are there any new info about a physical copy of the game.
Or even a collectors edition?

So far we only know that it will be available at retailers.
In what form and what the contents are, are still unknown.

Can we get some infos there, or is the Pre-Release version all we ever get?

I got some money, I won`t be spending on extended digital goods (aka digital and deluxe edition), since I like to have something to take in my hand.

Jaken.6801:

Okay, we got a release date now.
Are there any new info about a physical copy of the game.
Or even a collectors edition?

So far we only know that it will be available at retailers.
In what form and what the contents are, are still unknown.

Can we get some infos there, or is the Pre-Release version all we ever get?

I got some money, I won`t be spending on extended digital goods (aka digital and deluxe edition), since I like to have something to take in my hand.

… sigh …

Nobody bothers to check the FAQ first

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/105801626-Guild-Wars-2-Heart-of-Thorns-FAQ

Q: Will there be a collector’s edition for this expansion?

A: There are no plans for a physical collector’s edition for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns. Heart of Thorns will be offered in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions (all of which are available for pre-purchase and include digital in-game bonuses only).

I talked to John Corpening. He said there will be physical copies of HoT eventually. Although, exactly when and what those copies entail is unknown to me.

Behellagh.1468:

Jaken.6801:

Okay, we got a release date now.
Are there any new info about a physical copy of the game.
Or even a collectors edition?

So far we only know that it will be available at retailers.
In what form and what the contents are, are still unknown.

Can we get some infos there, or is the Pre-Release version all we ever get?

I got some money, I won`t be spending on extended digital goods (aka digital and deluxe edition), since I like to have something to take in my hand.

… sigh …

Nobody bothers to check the FAQ first

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/105801626-Guild-Wars-2-Heart-of-Thorns-FAQ

Q: Will there be a collector’s edition for this expansion?

A: There are no plans for a physical collector’s edition for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns. Heart of Thorns will be offered in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions (all of which are available for pre-purchase and include digital in-game bonuses only).

Hm. Seems like they updated the FAQ, or I just misremember something.

resurect from the dead, in light of the releasedate:

Any infos on what kind of Boxed versions will be available?
Any FAQ update?
Are you even planning on more (last FAQ update is old enough)?

Any details on how the game will be available when it is released (aside from, that it will be)?

Hello! I wish my question was answered by someone from the ArenaNet because I’d like to know if Pre-Purchase editions will be available once again in Poland. There is only one retail store selling this edition here (gram.pl) but they have run out of hard copies of the expansion. I see that retail stores in Germany and the UK have it but I’d like to order it in Poland for the sole reason it’s much cheaper here. Regards!

Another necro bump, ANet plz let me give you money.

I have no idea when the FAQ was updated, but it now says this

Q: Will this expansion only be available digitally, or will there be a boxed edition as well?

A: Both. Once Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is available, you’ll be able to buy it digitally or get boxed editions at retail stores.

Looks like the boxed copies aren’t coming until the game actually releases.

Nicktion.8910:

I have no idea when the FAQ was updated, but it now says this

Q: Will this expansion only be available digitally, or will there be a boxed edition as well?

A: Both. Once Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is available, you’ll be able to buy it digitally or get boxed editions at retail stores.

Looks like the boxed copies aren’t coming until the game actually releases.

The FAQ has stated the same thing (in regards to your quote) since April 1st, 2015, which may, or may not, be when the FAQ was created. There are no earlier snapshots.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150401200009/https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/105801626-Guild-Wars-2-Heart-of-Thorns-FAQ

The box copies (normal edition) are already in stores. I got one a few days ago from Game Mania and already added it to my GW2 account, also already received my character slot and pre-purchase title. It’s 45 euros, so a bit more pricey than the digital one which is 40 euros, but I really wanted a box copy.

The BestBuy website now has a third version of Heart of Thorns listed. The product page says coming soon, with a release date of the 23rd, and it says in the details that it requires a DVD drive.

The Guild Wars 2 page for retail locations now lists BestBuy, GameStop, Newegg, and Wal-Mart…Still only seeing the boxed expansion at the BestBuy website, though.

Edit: Amazon now lists the boxed expansion too, but out-of-stock.

Is this game ever going to be in a physical form and on store shelves? At least in Best Buy’s case there’s no record of it being in any of their brick and mortar stores. You can order it online, but I’m not even sure about that since Amazon flat out unlisted the physical version. Can we get any official word as to whether there is going to be a physical copy available?

Nicktion.8910:

Is this game ever going to be in a physical form and on store shelves? At least in Best Buy’s case there’s no record of it being in any of their brick and mortar stores. You can order it online, but I’m not even sure about that since Amazon flat out unlisted the physical version. Can we get any official word as to whether there is going to be a physical copy available?

This person say he got one at Best Buy.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/Dream-Come-True/

I see a listing for it at Amazon, although it has no product picture, and is still out of stock. And BestBuy’s website apparently has it. Still waiting to see it listed at Walmart, GameStop, and Newegg. Would have thought Target would be getting some too. But so far, BestBuy seems to be it.

Just got back from the local Walmart, and GW2 HoT boxed version is on the shelves there. Also see it listed in box form at GameStop’s website, but I haven’t been to the local one to see if it’s on the shelves.