As usual there is a "Special Edition" that will most likely just be a fancy way of saying "here's a free upgrade for being a fan but not really because anyone can just buy it." Then there are the two others that have quite a bit of extra meat to them. More than I can remember in all of the other collector's editions for the franchise. Of which I have purchased both.
Here's a look at what you will be getting in either of the big packages.
Freedom Edition
- Assassin's Creed III retail game
- A 24-cm high-quality figurine of Connor
- A steel book case art drawn by awards-winning comic artist Alex Ross
- George Washington's notebook revealing all the truth&secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution
- One exclusive Lithograph
- Two in-game Single Player Missions:
- Lost Mayan Ruins: Connor's mission leads him in an old Mayan pyramid, full of mysteries and revelations. Players will be able to unlock Captain Kidd's fabled cutlass, a deadly, brutal and beautiful piece of steel.
- Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favour. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac's War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.
- One in-game Multiplayer Package:
- The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of "The Jester".
Join Or Die Edition
- Assassin's Creed III retail game
- The medallion of the Assassins with its high-quality curd ladle
- George Washington's notebook revealing all the truth&secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution
- One in-game Single Player Mission:
- Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favour. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac's War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.
- One in-game Multiplayer Package:
- The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of "The Jester".
Special Edition
- Special packaging
- Assassin's Creed III retail game
- One in-game Single Player Missions:
- A Dangerous Secret: Fight against a secret that could jeopardise the funding of the revolution. In case of success, you'll be rewarded with an exclusive weapon: a Flintlock Musket.
So for the most part what it looks like is that you'll be paying more for a statue instead of a medallion and an extra single player mission. While there are no prices set as of yet, you can most likely go with the normal progression from $60 and on up based on extras. I know for one my choice will be the Freedom Edition. Mainly for the statue to add to my desk with the other mini statues I've recieved before with the past Assassin's Creed collector's editions.
What say you? Oh and before I forget, here's a short clip showing off some of the weapons of the game. Maybe that will help you decide if you want the extra SP mission to get the cutlass as well.