This is not a collectors editions -- therefore, anyone at anytime can buy either version of it. Look at the title in the store page:

1) DIGITAL STANDARD EDITION

2) DIGITAL IMPERIAL EDITION

It does not say it is a collection or I can not it says it for a limited time offer (beside playing 5 days before the release date)

Therefore, one can get those extras anytime they want too -- if they will pay a little extra for them.

Just like eating out -- Would like to add cheese for that sandwich for 50 cents extra?

They are just preorders. They haven't released any information about a collectors edition.

I don't think the digital edition offers the physical items for obvious reasons, if you're after the physical items you'll have to purchase the retail version, that offers the same things as the digital download too, with the physical items as well.

What I am trying to say:

The new race, any one can have it now -- it is NOT a limited time offer.

Then rises a question, what the sub fee is for if the player does not GET all the CONTENT?

To get all the content, it ESO is a 80 dollar game now, plus sub fee. The question still remains, will a sub get one ALL THE CONTENT?

Many of the things they are offering will probably be purchasable in their in-game store. Unlocking Imperials will most likely be an option along with the ability to craft different sets of armor, as well as playing with any race as any alliance.

Totes gonna drop a few bucks extra to supersize my fries.

Nah, not likely. The CE package might be upgradeable in their shop, but the crafting styles thing requires you have an understanding of the system. It comes with the race, not as a separate thing to buy,

Apparently you can upgrade to the digital imperial edition any time after launch. It doesn't appear as though Imperials will be available in any other way.

It's like they created a new race and offered it as a DLC for $20. Yes, it's kind of shady that they are doing it at launch. I'm of mixed feelings on the subject. If they offered Imperials as a DLC 6 months or a year after launch, it wouldn't be such a big deal. But at the same time, if they did that, I'd already have a character that I invested in for 6 months or a year. By doing it now, we have the option of playing as an Imperial from day 1. Yes, we get other perks in the Imperial edition besides just a new race, but the race is the primary reason why people will buy that edition, and ZOS knows that.

Can I upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition?

Starting April 4th, 2014 all customers who pre-purchased the Digital Standard Edition can upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition by visiting The Elder Scrolls Online Store (https://store.elderscrollsonline.com). This will allow them to receive the exclusive collection of in-game rewards available from the Digital Imperial Edition. This upgrade service will be available from April 4th, 2014. If players have purchased a physical copy of the Standard Edition but wish to upgrade to the Digital Imperial Edition, our upgrade service is there to help you do so. If you pre-ordered a physical edition at a retailer, please contact that retailer to discuss changing your pre-order.

http://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/storefaq

Can't wait until the first expansion ships and people flip out because they have to pay for that also.

Like it isn't common MMO practice for the last 20 years or something. :-p

Isn't DLC (like a new race) content be included in the sub fee?

The big news to me is that there is Imperial gear in game you can use and you can convert the look of any armor to it. I hope this is a standard option for all gear. If that can be done I cannot see why you cannot do this for other races too for their own style. That is HUGE perk for Imperials and they aren't even a standard race!

Maybe/Maybe not. It really depends. Stop thinking of these things in terms of DLC. They aren't technically addon/downloadable content. These are just digital items or store items.

The sub isn't to guarantee a user all content, the sub to pay for all the on going development for Live events, patches, server maintenance and content updates that are not considered to be expansions.

yeah, it was supposed to be. the only thing they said you would have to buy are the major expansions, and things like name changes.

Disagree with that, but the digital bonuses are for pre-ordering and buying the collector's edition.

I don't see people [censored]ing they aren't getting a 12 inch Molag Bal statue in their sub fee though.

No, they are for preordering the digitial editions. Again, there has been no mention of a collectors edition officially yet.

Uh, that's what the Imperial edition is, broseph. The physical version has a statue and book and map and all that other jazz. Bound in a steel case.

The imperial edition is just another digital version; they haven't put a time frame on it or limited it's availability. The collectors edition, which was leaked for about 5 minutes on amazon would be the true collectors edition but they haven't officially released that information anywhere, yet. I can only assume the actual physical collectors edition will be a limited run.

K9Mouse - Playable races are not content, they're cosmetic features.

oh really? let us take away all but 3 races then and charge extra for them also. Since they are a "service" now, not content.

Race is content,

Cosmetic means it has no effect on gameplay, a race DOES have effect on gameplay as it has their own abilites, gear, etc

You people.

First you complain that imperials arent playable at all, even though the story and setting of the game perfectly justify it, and then when they offer to let you play an imperial you [censored] that you have to pay for it.

Some people arent happy unless they're complaining.

As has been said previously, imperial racials typically effect dialogue choices, not combat. Chances are, especially after this uproar from all of you unreasonables, that imperial racial abilities will have zero impact on combat. No impact on combat = cosmetic choice.

The gear will not be any more powerful than any other gear you can find or make in the game, they're not letting you pay to be overpowered or have an I win button. The ONLY difference is appearance, thus it is a cosmetic choice.

The horse you get will not be any faster than any other horse in the game, the only difference is it's appearance (hello, that means cosmetic) and the fact that you're getting it for real-world money instead of in-game money.

The vanity pet, no effect on combat, it's a cosmetic addition.

Stop

Your

[censored]ing

This is why I always point out the NONE clause that exists in every Terms of Service for the MMOs I have played. The legalese is more long-winded but it boils down to this simplified statement:

The developers are Not Obligated to provide anything beyond access to the game and its related services, and the consumer is Not Entitled to anything beyond access to the game and its related services.

Not Obligated; Not Entitled - NONO

The LIE that subscriptions pay for content has prevailed in every subscription-based game I have ever played. Except for sandbox MMOs like ultima online where access was content, because everything and everyone around you was the content. I call it a lie because if it was true, then the developers would be falling all over themselves to make damn sure that for every month that we pay a subscription, there would be some sort of playable content released for all supported playstyles.

With ZOS we get the every 4-6 weeks for content release. What they are telling us is to look for a release approximately every 5 weeks. Ironic isn't it that a month consists of 4 weeks. Meaning that it will be 1 or 2 weeks after the sub lapses before the next content release happens. And they know that those who want to experience it will fork over another MONTH's subscription to get it. Very clever marketing. But as time goes by, the regularity of release will fall off. it'll move more towards the 6-week mark. And we'll swallow it because they said 4-6 weeks. Then there will be a crapstorm when for whatever reason, release of a patch is takes seven or more weeks. Ah but now a precedent is set. 5-7 weeks, But people will still be paying every 4 weeks... And if it ends up being pushed out to every 6-8 weeks? Guess what? that means nearly 2 months in subscription revenue to produce one content patch.

It isn't a question of IF this will happen... It is a question of WHEN.

The subscription fee we will pay every month will ultimately prove to be not for content production.