Is the pricy Diablo 4 expansion bundle worth it? We break down the cost.

Like many modern games, the Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred expansion is sold in several bundles of increasing cost. And while simply buying the expansion costs $40, prices go up to $90 — not as bad as Ubisoft’s most expensive Star Wars Outlaws bundle ($130), but still pricy. So are the more expensive Vessel of Hatred bundles worth the price, or should you just buy the base game?

Let’s take a look at the different editions of the expansion, break down the numbers, and talk about what’s worth your money.

There are three Vessel of Hatred bundles available with an extra combo (the Diablo 4 expansion bundle) for entirely new players. Let’s review the cost and contents for the expansion bundles:

• Standard Edition ($39.99) is our baseline for the launch. The bundle includes the expansion, Alkor the Snow Leopard pet, and the Mother’s Lament Legendary Gem for Diablo Immortal.
• The Expansion Bundle ($69.99) combines the original Diablo 4 game and the Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition.
• Deluxe Edition ($59.99) includes all contents from Standard, plus Hratli the Canine pet, the Nahantu War-Cat Mount and Armor bundle, and one premium Battle Pass token.
• Ultimate Edition ($89.99) includes all contents from the Deluxe Edition, plus 3000 Platinum to use in the in-game store, Natalya the Tiger pet, the Nahantu Unearthed Armor Bundle (containing five class armor sets), the Wings of the Faith cosmetic, and a Nahantu-themed town portal.

Are the upgraded editions worth it?

Now let’s take a look at the cash value of what’s included in each edition.

We’re going to treat the Standard Edition as our baseline; it includes the base game plus a pet and a gem for Diablo Immortal. Neither of these extras have a direct cash value, as the only companion pet in game so far has been free (even though having a critter with you that picks up gold and materials feels closer to “priceless” on the value scale). The Legendary gem also doesn’t have a direct cash value, and it means little if you don’t play Immortal in the first place.

The Deluxe Edition costs $20 more, but includes about that much worth of extras. The Premium Battle Pass token is. This means paying $10 for the Nahantu War-Cat Mount and its armor; comparable combos from the in-game shop start at 1000 Platinum (or $9.99), so we have a simple break-even on the additional cost.

The Ultimate Edition costs $30 more than the Deluxe Edition, and it contains more than that in extras. The bundle includes 3000 Platinum, which sells for $24.99.The Nahantu-themed armor sets (one for each current class) are smaller sets, only containing the five main armor transmog slots, but considering the price of larger sets in the store we can value these at 2000 Platinum, or $20 apiece. Town Portal cosmetic is difficult to price, as these have only been sold in the shop as part of bundles, but considering the pricing we’ve seen, individual portal skins could be worth 500 Platinum or $4.99.

Realistically, you may not care about any of the extras. If the cosmetics aren’t important to you, the Standard Edition is an easy choice. But if you like the cosmetics — or at least some of the cosmetics — the higher prices may be worth it. If you bought everything included in the more expensive bundles, you would spend just as much (or more).

If you’re not sure which bundle is for you, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want a Battle Pass for Season 6? Get the Deluxe Edition, which includes the Premium Battle Pass plus a mount, for a bit more than the cost of the pass. (But if the mount isn’t a value-add for you, go with Standard and buy your own pass.)
• Do you care about cosmetics? The Ultimate Edition is the best bang for your buck, offering a mountain of Nahantu-themed cosmetics for less than you would pay in the store.
• Do you not care about cosmetics? Get the Standard Edition because games are expensive y’all. You can always pay for the Battle Pass separately or with Platinum you’ve earned in previous seasons.
• Are you entirely new to the game? Buy the Diablo 4 Expansion bundle. (Though Xbox Game Pass subscribers can just pick up the Standard edition.)

Will there be an expansion Collector’s Edition?

We haven’t heard anything about a collector’s edition yet, which means it’s unlikely. Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls had a beautiful retail-exclusive Collector’s Edition box. This limited edition collectable included a Malthael mousepad, hardback art book, a soundtrack CD for the Reaper of Souls expansion, and a behind-the-scenes Blu-ray/DVD set including development team and community member interviews.

But the RoS Collector’s Edition was noted in the preorder announcement for the expansion so I would have expected the same to be announced alongside the Vessel of Hatred prepurchase. That said, video game companies love creating new ways to earn money.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours to make. Consider what you value and make your choice for the pre-order, because Vessel of Hatred is coming on October 8. See you in Nahantu!