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Dark Souls III hits shelves today for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
It is surrounded by a fair amount of hype, expectation and related merchandise, including a 300 Prestige Edition and much more affordable products such as mugs and comic books.
These items should be popular as the Dark Souls franchise reached eight million copies sold worldwide last summer, according to Famitsu. These sales figures include four titles: 2011’s Dark Souls and its 2012 expansion Artorias of the Abyss, plus 2014’s Dark Souls II and its updated version Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, released in 2015.
There’s more to the series than just this, however. It all started with the release of Demon’s Souls in 2009 on PS3, which established the series’ reputation for difficulty.
There’s also PS4-exclusive sister title Bloodborne that was released in 2015 to rave reviews.
Dark Souls III was first announced as the final episode of the series, but the franchise’s creator Hidetaka Miyazaki later clarified the situation.
It’s the last project we started working on before I became president [of From Software],” he said at E3 last year.
It’ll be a turning point, but it’s not final,” he added.
He also told at that time that Dark Souls III’s story follows closely from II.”
To support the launch of Dark Souls III, Bandai Namco tried to think outside of the box with its marketing efforts. It started with the release of a Dark Souls-inspired mobile game, entitled Slashy Souls, which faced a backlash for being nothing more than an ad for Dark Souls III.
And as we reported a few weeks ago, the publisher also organised more unusual marketing events, such as a chicken wings eating contest and a partnership with Yorkshire Tea to make a Dark Souls tea.
Dark Souls III Collector’s Edition
Dark Souls’ fanboys can rejoice: Bandai Namco is releasing two special editions for the upcoming Dark Souls III, including a 300 Prestige Edition and this Collector’s Edition. Apart from the game itself, it features the soundtrack, a starter guide, the official art book, a cloth map, a collector’s box, a metal case and a 10” Red Knight statue.
SRP: 100
Manufacturer: Bandai Namco
Distributor: Advantage Distribution
Contact: 01215 069 590
Dark Souls III Strategy Guide – Estus Flask Edition
Prima is targeting Dark Souls’ hoarders with this special edition of its strategy guide. It includes a resin replica of the emerald Estus Flask (however Prima clarifies that it does not hold liquid”), a Wolf Knight’s Greatsword metal bookmark, a Dark Souls III journal, a code to access a mobile-friendly eGuide and the premium hardcover guide itself, which comes with artwork from Dark Souls III.
SRP: 79.99
Manufacturer: Prima Games
Distributor: DK
Contact: sales@uk.dk.com
Dark Souls #1 Comic Book
The first Dark Souls comic book comes with five different covers by Alan Quah and is written by George Mann.
SRP: 3.99
Manufacturer: Titan Books
Distributor: Titan Books
Contact: sales@titanemail.com
Camp Lordran T-Shirt
Resting is an important part of the Dark Souls’ experience, so Insert Coin made a T-shirt so that players won’t forget about it.
SRP: 22
Manufacturer: Insert Coin
Distributor: Insert Coin
Contact: 01702 521 850
Dark Souls III Heat Changing Mug
Flames will slowly surround the Dark Souls III logo when this mug gets hot.
SRP: 12.99
Manufacturer: Numskull
Distributor: Gaming Merchandise UK
Contact: hello@gamingmerchandiseuk.com
Funko Pop! – Red Knight Vinyl Figure
This brand new addition to Funko Pop’s vinyl figures collection is 10cm tall.
SRP: 9.99
Manufacturer: Funko
Distributor: Underground Toys
Contact: kenny@underground-toys.com
