If you are a fan of movies and video games, you have surely heard of Steelbooks . Made for successful titles, these luxury formats are one of the collector’s items most valued by movie and video game fans. Therefore, we tell you what a Steelbook is , how it differs from a normal edition, what advantages it has over it and everything you need to know to be an expert on the subject.
You’ve likely come across more than one Steelbook edition of your favorite movie or game, wondering what it is and if it’s worth it.
Let’s see it in detail.
What is a Steelbook exactly
A Steelbook is a deluxe edition in a metal box of movies and video games that have been very successful. When this success is confirmed, they are usually reissued in this way, so that the most fans can keep their favorite work in an enviable luxury format made of metal.
In fact Steelbook is also a concept and a trademarked term of the Scanavo company. This company is an expert in branding and, above all, packaging , that is, the packaging in which the products we buy come.
Scanavo itself defines its Steelbooks as ” Media wrapped in metal “.
As a curiosity, the first Steelbook in history was the Killzone video game for PS2 .
The first Steelbook movie on DVD was Jet Li’s Hero and the first Blu-ray was Pan’s Labyrinth in its German version.
What movies and video games come out in Steelbook format
The most successful , we are not going to fool you. Whether it is due to its passage in theaters or its sales on Blu-ray and DVD, the most famous movies and the most prominent games usually have a Steelbook edition.
Wonder Woman , Matrix , Marvel movies or video games like Uncharted , Last of Us and Cyberpunk 2077 are examples of titles that have a Steelbook version. Also select series, such as Game of Thrones , are complete in this format.
This usually comes out after the traditional physical edit . In this way, they take advantage of the fact that fans will buy that first plastic edition and the most fans will do it again with the luxury Steelbook edition.
Similarly, longtime classics are also often edited on the Steelbook . Conan the barbarian is an example of a film of this type.
How the Steelbook versions differ from the regular ones
The first difference is obvious. The outer packaging and appearance are premium compared to plastic wrap.
We are talking about a metal box, often with sculpted relief, in a spectacular format that, as soon as you touch it, already conveys that you are looking at a kind of jewel and not just anything. That makes it possible for you to keep your favorite thing in its most spectacular way.
This connects with the fact that many moviegoers and gamers are also hopeless collectors. The Steelbook turns our favorite titles into those collectibles that you want to show and see all the time in a prominent place in the house.
Obviously, the differences with the normal Blu-Ray or even DVD editions are not only external: the Steelbook editions usually incorporate extras that are not in other more traditional editions.
What design and content do they have
If Apple taught us something, it is that the external is as important as the internal when it comes to product and packaging . The first impression is essential and influences the perception of what you buy and its enjoyment. The bitten apple is an example of that product philosophy and what, in part, allows it to sell more expensively.
Well, Steelbook is bringing that same philosophy of luxury to movies and video games . A packaging in premium material such as metal, having worked said metal on many occasions, with exclusive reliefs or images.
And of course, Steelbooks also want that opening and first contact experience to be special.
For this reason, they usually include physical extras inside the box (some sticker, small poster or brochure, something like that) and also inside the version of the film and the video game (with additional footage or something exclusive to play).
Take a look, for example, at the image that illustrates the article at the beginning and how the John Wick Blu-ray contains exclusive merchandise pieces.
Advantages and disadvantages of Steelbooks
Buying this type of edition has clear advantages but also some drawbacks that you did not have (or maybe you are already imagining). Aim.
What advantages do they have
The advantages of the Steelbook edition are clear.
On almost all occasions , exclusive, unpublished and different art is used so that it stands out well from the rest of the editions. These images tend to be, on many occasions, more artistic and mature, being able to fit as a tasteful decoration in any part of the house.
A perfect example of exclusive art of this type is the Marvel movie editions on Steelbook , especially the French ones, which have beautiful art. Here below you can see two of them.
The quality of the packaging is far superior to the plastic of the traditional editions, not degrading so easily.
The editions are limited , which means that they become collectors’ items, which could even be revalued within years.
For example, the Steelbook version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy , in 4K UHD format, is a true work of art that is already difficult to find and is highly valued. In fact, you better have about 350 euros right now if you want someone to sell it to you.
On top of that, they give a superior tangible experience in a world where movies and video games are no longer yours. Now, you simply rent them in streaming for a monthly fee and if you stop paying it, everything goes up in smoke. With a Steelbook , you know your favorite movie will last and be there forever.
What are the downsides
The downside to Steelbooks is obvious. They are more expensive than normal editions.
On top of that, sometimes the Steelbook edition also doesn’t contain so much exclusive stuff as to be very worthwhile. Either the box is not very careful and, instead of original art or sculpturing parts of said box in relief, they capture the photograph of the poster of the movie or the game and little else.
Therefore, unless we are talking about your favorite movies and games, it is always advisable to compare what is new in the Steelbook version
Where to buy Steelbooks?
You can buy Steelbooks in the usual online stores . A little stroll through Amazon, for example, will reveal that there are many more editions in the Steelbook than you might think .
However, as it is likely that many editions are no longer in store and are sold out (being limited series) you will have to resort to sites like Ebay or Wallapop, if you want to find something very specific. There you usually find a huge number of second-hand movies and video games in Steelbook format.
As you can see, there is much more history behind the Steelbooks than it seems and, if you are a movie fan and gamer, it is always advisable to take a look at this edition , lest you miss your favorite jewel.