So far Steam only offers the plain vanilla version, is there going to be anything extra for pc? Maybe a digital deluxe edition, or some preorder bonus? (I know about the pip-boy boxed thingie and peorder physcal lbobbleheads, my question is about purely digital versions.)

I don't think there will be preorder bonuses. Bethesda hasn't really done that before.

Well, Skyrim had a TF2 hat, but I'm not sure if anyone cares about those anymore.

Forgot about that, I think Fallout: New Vegas had an in-game Pip-boy for TF2. Not sure if they'll give out free hats this time.

Whether or not ups/USPS/fedex drop/damage your package is the bonus for physical.

Digital would be preloading

Actually New Vegas had several preorder bonus DLCs, at least 3 or 4 of them IIRC. I know it was created by Obsidian but it was a Fallout game and published by Bethesda/Zenimax.

I got coasters for my NV pre-order.

There were four - they were starter gear packs; what was in them depended on the retailer from whom you pre-ordered the game. Obsidian later bundled them all together and released them as the Courier's Stash DLC.

I pre-ordered mine from Walmart, so I got the Caravan Pack.

I think I started out with the same, with a shotgun. Would be nice if someone from BS could comment on this.

Bethesda I think has always done that. Skyrim had a tf2 hat and fallout (nv?) had the pip boy for tf2.

Those hats, were also released along side https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Bundles#QuakeCon_Bundle, that you would only get as a bonus if you did got the related games before August 8th 2011

It was months before Skyrim's release, and nearing a year of New Vegas' release. Not to mention the other games, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quake_4, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage_(video_game) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brink_(video_game)

Honestly seems pretty erratic for a 'pre-order' bonus.

While I wouldn't mind seeing a Digital Deluxe version with a few tchotchkes included, I really don't like the practice of different bonuses depending where you pre-ordered from. Until you start playing the game, you really don't know what bonus items you'll end up actually using. As an example, Mass Effect 2 did this and while they would eventually release most of the bonuses to everyone in DLC bundles, the one gun that I would've used like mad, the M-490 Blackstorm that shot out mini black holes, never was for PC beyond the pre-order from Gamestop. My only options to get the thing would be to pay an exorbitant amount for a code on eBay or get a Playstatiion 3 and another copy of the game. It's a moot point now since I've become a bit disenchanted with Bioware's stuff, but the point's still valid.

I'm not getting the Pip-Boy edition of Fallout 4 for Reasons, but I would be open to a Digital Deluxe option if it was reasonably priced.

Why even create these forums if Bethesda can't be arsed to answer any questions here? I wish some other company held that ip. You know, one that gives a rat's ass about players.

Most "official forums" I've been on, have mostly been just for the players to discuss amongst themselves. Especially the "General" one. Vast majority of company communication on forums tends to be in the Bug Fix forum. And the "News & Events" forums for games that are online/MMOs.

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re: main topic.... honestly, I separate out how FO:NV was done, just because another company was also involved. Bethesda's mainline games haven't really had much in the way of pre-order boni. And the Team Fortress junk also seems like it was due to the tie-in with Valve/Steam. So, again, another company's influence.

But I guess we'll see. Little reason to pre-order the basic version at this point, especially digitally - we don't even have announced system requirements yet. FO4 only really seems to be up on the Steam store because it had an announced date at E3, and they wanted to take advantage of the "WOOHOO!" reaction of fans....

well dont let the door hit you on the way out.

Exactly, I see zero incentive for a digital preorder ATM. Retail version is certainly different, if you wanted the pipboy you may be too late already, but can probably still find a retailer that offers a bobblehead. I haven't even looked at my FO3 CE lunchbox and bobblehead since that game released so I'll pass on physical gimmicks but to each their own. Just seems a bit odd that while there is a fully fleshed-out retail CE apparently no thought went into making the digital download more attractive. Maybe you are up to something with the Obsidian/Valve influence on previous game goodies after all...

It used to be somewhat common for publishers to offer a 10% pre-order discount (digital download). That's the sort of bonus/incentive I can get behind. As far as in-game items, I'm not a fan. Especially for a survival/scrounging-type game, getting bonus gear up front seems to me to detract from the gameplay experience. In cases where I have gotten in-game bonus stuff, I've opted not to use it.