It’s no secret that digital game sales have overtaken physical games. But there will always be fans who cherish physical editions and are willing to pay a premium for collector’s editions of their favourite franchises. And there will also always be games publishers looking to milk as much money out of you as possible.
Special-edition racing games are surprisingly rare, often limited to premium steelbook packaging and digital in-game bonus items. But sometimes, collector’s editions of popular racing games contain extravagant goodies, from model cars to art books and even actual real cars.
Keep your wallet safe because things are about to get pricey as we look back at the most expensive racing game collector’s editions.
Need for Speed Heat Collector’s Edition - £99.99
For the last instalment of the Need for Speed franchise, EA released a special collector’s edition of NFS Heat. While most of the extra items were nothing special (a notepad, stickers, and magnets), the highlight was a 1:43 diecast scale model of the Polestar 1, the game’s hero car.
Sold exclusively at GAME, the NFS Heat Collector’s Edition retailed for £99.99 – and it didn’t even include a copy of the game. Instead, it was packaged with an empty steelbook case. It’s hard to argue you were getting value for money.
MotoGP 13 Collector’s Edition - €149.99
For hardcore MotoGP enthusiasts, Milestone released a special Collector’s Edition of MotoGP 13 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Limited to 1,500 copies in Italy and Spain, the MotoGP 13 Collector’s Edition included a copy of the game and a bonus making-of DVD.
But its party piece was a 27 cm stainless steel replica of the MotoGP World Championship trophy, so you could fantasise about being a MotoGP world champion. It was a novelty collector’s item that pushed the price up to €149.99 – around £127 at current exchange rates.
Forza Motorsport 5 Paddock Edition - $200
Forza Motorsport's popularity has resulted in a slew of collector's editions. First, a Collector’s Edition of Forza Motorsport 2 came with special packaging and a 156-page book with driving techniques and details on every car in the game.
Following that, the Forza Motorsport 3 Collector’s Edition included a custom case, a 2GB USB, keyring, and digital extras, while the Forza Motorsport 4 Collector’s Edition featured a 96-page book showcasing the cars.
For the series debut on Xbox One, Turn 10 went the extra mile with the Forza Motorsport 5 Paddock Edition, limited to 3,000 units. Costing $120 in the US, it was significantly more expensive than previous Forza Collector’s Editions. So, what did you get for your $120?
The Paddock Edition included a Forza Motorsport-branded premium hoodie, steel water bottle, stem caps, keychain, and sunglasses. What it didn’t include, however, was a copy of the game. Yes, really. A limited-edition version of the game was also available for an extra $80, bringing the total to $200 (around £160 at current exchange rates).
DiRT 3 Collector’s Edition - $300
If you ever wanted to channel your inner Ken Block, this DiRT 3 Collector’s Edition was for you. Sold exclusively in North America at Gamestop and Amazon.com for a whopping $300 (around £240 at current exchange rates), the DiRT 3 Collector’s Edition was bundled with a radio-controlled car based on Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta Gymkhana car.
$300 may seem steep for a racing game and a model car. But this wasn’t a tacky toy car. Ken Block’s Fiesta was made by Traxxas, a company that specialises in radio-controlled cars with high-quality construction and components.
As such, the R/C Fiesta featured a full-time all-wheel-drive system and F1-inspired suspension with shocks progressive springs. And since the R/C car normally retailed for $300, you were technically getting DiRT 3 for free.
Gran Turismo 4 Nike Limited Edition – 32,000 yen
As one of the most popular racing franchises of all time, there have been numerous Gran Turismo collector’s editions over the years. Both GT5 and GT Sport received the collector’s edition treatment with diecast model cars and chunky coffee table books.
But one of the rarest and most expensive GT collector’s editions is the Gran Turismo 4 Nike Limited Edition.
In 2004, Polyphony Digital teamed up with Nike to design a fictional car known as the Nike ONE 2022 that was hidden in Gran Turismo 4. This partnership also spawned the Gran Turismo 4 Nike Limited Edition.
Limited to 1,000 copies and sold exclusively in Japan, the Nike Edition came with a copy of GT4 featuring exclusive artwork along with GT4-branded Nike sneakers and a t-shirt packed inside an aluminium collector's case.
At the time, the Nike Edition cost 32,000 yen – around £200 at current exchange rates. Due to its rarity, its value has soared since then. At the time of writing, there's an eBay listing for $630 (£502.99) if you must own every piece of GT merchandise.
Project CARS 2 Ultra Edition - £429.99
In 2017, Project CARS 2 launched with four editions: Standard, Limited, Collector's, and Ultra Edition. Featuring a steelbook, art book and a 1/43 scale model of the McLaren 720S among other extras, the Collector’s Edition was pricey, with a £119.99 RRP.
The Ultra Edition, on the other hand, cost more than a games console at the time.
Limited to only 1,000 copies, the Ultra Edition included all contents from the Collector’s Edition, but the 1/43 scale model was replaced with a higher-quality 1/12 Resin model of the McLaren 720S.
It also came with a signed poster, an individually-numbered Snapback cap, and a McLaren Sketchbook detailing the design and development of the McLaren 720S, the successor to the McLaren 650S.
All this could be yours for a whopping £429.99. While the Collector’s Edition is relatively affordable with used copies selling for around £70, the Ultra Edition is harder to find but eBay listings occasionally pop up for between £300 and £500.
Toyota Yaris GR Sport GT7 Edition - €23,000
Considering that Gran Turismo 7 marked the series 25th anniversary of the series, you would think the special commemorative special edition would be something special. Instead, the Gran Turismo 7 Anniversary Edition contained a stylish steelbook and not much else.
In Spain, however, Polyphony collaborated with Toyota to sell the Toyota Yaris GR Sport GT7 Edition. Limited to only 100 units, the GT7 Edition is based on the Toyota Yaris GR Sport Electric Hybrid, distinguished with GT badging on the front wings, a personalised keyfob, and a nameplate.
As a bonus, buyers also received a copy of GT7 and a PlayStation 5 console. At the time, this was probably the easiest way to get a PS5. While pricing was never confirmed, the regular Toyota Yaris GR Sport retailed for €23,000.
GRID 2 BAC Mono Edition - £125,000
Since the original Race Driver GRID rolled off the assembly line, the GRID series has been largely underlooked. For GRID 2, Codemasters pulled out the stops and released a collectors edition so eye-wateringly expensive, it earned a Guinness World Record for "Most Expensive Video Game Commercially Available – Special Edition.”
Presenting the GRID 2 BAC Mono Edition, which retailed for, wait for it, £125,000.
Not only did this ridiculously expensive edition include a copy of the game and a PlayStation 3 to play it on, but it also came with an actual 170-mph BAC Mono supercar with an exclusive GRID 2 livery and customised to the owner’s unique specification.
The lucky owner would also receive a factory tour at BAC, along with a made-to-measure racing suit, boots and gloves.
Before you disregard the Grid 2 BAC Mono Edition as a publicity stunt, someone actually bought it, despite the astronomical price tag. In 2015, it was sold to DJ Joel Thomas Zimmerman, better known as DeadMau5.
Honourable mention
Saints Row IV Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition - $1,000,000
Saints Row IV may not technically be a racing game, but driving is integral to the gameplay. A ludicrously expensive special edition of the game also came with an actual supercar.
Costing a cool $1 million, if you had more money than sense, the Saints Row IV Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition included a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Toyota Prius with one year’s insurance.
Also included was a week-long stay for two at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington DC and a Virgin Galactic Space Flight. While it was a marketing stunt that poked fun at overpriced collector’s editions, it was listed for sale at GAME UK. It's not known if anyone bought it, however.