“Steelbook” editions are consistently my favorite pre-order incentives. Exclusive in-game content is nice, but it usually ends up publicly available later. Meanwhile, action figures or bonus swag have a novelty that wears thin fast, and often finds its way to my closet sooner than I’d like. With a steelbook, I’d need a case for my disc anyway, so why not have one of high quality? Despite their home on cartridge-based media, steelbooks are coming to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and they’re looking mighty nice.
Though only confirmed for the UK at this time, it’s reasonable to assume that these will be available everywhere in a matter of weeks (or, at the very least, in time for release). In addition to a souped-up housing for your cartridge, the steelbook edition offers a miniaturized figure of either Kyogre or Groudon, depending on which game you choose. Given that you aren’t actually paying more for the included extras, the package is a fantastic deal.
Related: Can Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Uphold the Originals’ Legacy?
There are some other Pokémon goodies available too, like a Groudon or Kyogre-themed 2DS console to match each respective game if you need one. The bundles are sold both with and without the corresponding Pokémon titles included, so be careful when ordering. If you don’t plan to pre-order, there’s still a bit of a wait ahead; the latest Pokémon doesn’t release until November 21st. Like Pokémon X and Y before it, the release is global, so there are no multi-month delays for localization anymore (though the European edition, mysteriously, releases 7 days later).
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire introduce Mega Evolutions, Super Training, updated visuals, and more to the Game Boy Advance originals, so don’t miss out if you’ve got a nostalgic itch that needs scratching.
