History Main / GameOfTheYearEdition

Unfortunately, these bundles are [[RevenueEnhancingDevices usually released within weeks of the last round of DLC hitting the market]], leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of many gamers. Furthermore, some have begun to avoid purchasing DLC packs until they are released as part of the inevitable GOTY edition or packaged together at a reduced price online through the likes of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (even if such a package isn't actually planned, gamers will often assume it is). Developers, in turn, lose potential sales due to consumers being reluctant to pick up the base game if it will be inevitably be going for a better deal with the DLC down the road. To counter this, many developers now sell packages of "the game and ''future'' [=DLCs=]", often referred to as a "Season Pass" and sometimes even included as a preorder option.

This trope refers to the increasingly common practice of bundling a critically acclaimed title with extra content, at a reduced price compared to buying all the pieces separately (much to the chagrin of those who did so). Theoretically, it's a win-win situation: gamers who didn't purchase the game initially can jump right in more cheaply, while publishers can make a quick buck on a title which requires less publicity to market (comapred to a brand-new title).

When a game publisher wants to cash in on a title that critics cannot stop gushing about come awards season, how do they do it? Why, by bundling the game with all released DLC and slapping a Game of the Year Edition sticker on it, of course!

This trope refers to the increasingly common practice of bundling a critically acclaimed title with extra content (such as paid DLC) at a reduced price (much to the chagrin of those who bought everything separately). Theoretically, it's a win-win situation: gamers who may have held out purchasing a game released during the holiday rush or award bait season can jump right in for a reduced price, while publishers can make a quick buck on a title which requires very little publicity to market (at least in comparison to a brand-new title). Right?

Unfortunately, these bundles are [[RevenueEnhancingDevices usually released within weeks of the last round of DLC hitting the market]], leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of many a gamer. Furthermore, some have begun to avoid purchasing [=DLC=] packs until they are released as part of the inevitable GOTY edition or packaged together at a reduced price online through the likes of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, even if such a package isn't planned. It's even worse for developers, who lose potential sales due to consumers being reluctant to pick up the base game if it will be inevitably be going for much cheaper within less than a year and include all DLC content. To combat this problem, developers have started to sell packages of "the game and ''future'' [=DLCs=]", including in preorders.

Not to be confused with [[Music/{{Gotye}} a certain Belgian-Australian musician]] [[FunWithAcronyms that you used to know]]. For the fanfic trope [[FanFic/NarutoGameOfTheYearEdition where this is applied to a universe,]] please see SuddenGameInterface.

Unfortunately, these bundles are [[RevenueEnhancingDevices usually released within weeks of the last round of DLC hitting the market]], leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of many a gamer. Furthermore, some have begun to avoid purchasing [=DLC=] packs until they are released as part of the inevitable GOTY edition or packaged together at a reduced price online through the likes of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, even if such a package isn't planned. It's even worse for developers, who lose potential sales due to consumers being reluctant to pick up the base game if it will be inevitably be going for much cheaper within less than a year and include all DLC content. To combat this problem, developers have started to sell packages of "the game and X ''future'' [=DLCs=]", including in preorders.

* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' had a Gold Edition featuring all the DLC characters from both the Hero Pack ([[Comicbook/TheAvengers Hawkeye]], [[Comicbook/XMen Cyclops, Nightcrawler]], and [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]) and the Villain Pack ([[Comicbook/XMen Magneto, Sabertooth,]] Doctor Doom and Comicbook/{{Venom}}). This is now the only way to get these DLC packs since Activision lost its Marvel license.

** ''VideoGame/TheSims1'' took this UpToEleven with ''The Sims Complete Collection'', which not only includes all seven expansion packs, but also includes the bonus content from the previously released ''The Sims Deluxe Edition'' and ''The Sims Double Deluxe'' and several free DLC packs previously released through the game's website.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV & [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheLostAndDamned Episodes from]] [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheBalladOfGayTony Liberty City]]: The Complete Edition''

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' received a "Premium Edition" on PC, bundling the game and every DLC offered from the Season Pass, however it does not have the [=PlayStation=] 4 version-exclusive [=DLCs=].

* ''VideoGame/TombRaider: Game of the Year Edition'' on [=PS3=]/Xbox 360. ''Definitive Editon'' on [=PS4=]/Xbox One.

** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11 Ultimate'': It includes the base game, the Kombat Pack 1 (which has Shang Tsung, the Joker, Sindel, Nightwolf, Spawn, the Terminator T-800, 6 Skin Packs and 7 exclusive Skins), the Aftermath Expansion (which has a new story, Sheeva, Fujin, RoboCop, and 3 Skin Packs), and the Kombat Pack 2 (which has Mileena, Rain, Rambo, and 1 Skin Pack).

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty2'' up until ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare''.

* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar 2''

** ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11 Ultimate'': It includes the base game, the Kombat Pack 1 (which has Shang Tsung, the Joker, Sindel, Nightwolf, Spawn, the Terminator T-800, 6 Skin Packs and 7 exclusive Skins), the Aftermath Expansion (which has a new story, Sheeva, Fujin, Robocop, and 3 Skin Packs), and the Kombat Pack 2 (which has Mileena, Rain, Rambo, and 1 Skin Pack).

* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead''. An odd case, given that the Steam version has no paid DLC to bundle with it. For 360 users, the GOTY Edition comes with the free Survival Mode DLC on disc, but Crash Course and The Sacrifice are not included.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 2'' up until ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare''.

* ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004''. As the ''Editor's Choice Edition''.