Disc Releases

Overview

As with most AAA ranked MMOs of the early 2000s, the "City Of" franchise got its start as a set of CDs released to retailers' shelves in a boxed format. Since that initial launch, many varieties of packaged releases were available, both for City of Heroes and its expansions, City of Villains and Going Rogue.

Below is a listing of all known worldwide commercial releases of the game, in chronological order.

North American Releases

City of Heroes Pre-Order

Release Date: February 9, 2004
Game Version: N/A

The pre-order for City of Heroes was available from different retailers, with each version granting a different in-game sprint power.

City of Heroes

Release Date: April 28, 2004
Game Version: Issue 0

The original release of the game was also available to European players, but they were required to play on the North American servers.

City of Heroes Collector's DVD Edition

Release Date: November 9, 2004
Game Version: Issue 2

The special edition of City of Heroes contained several bonus physical and in-game items, as well as a convenient single installation DVD.

City of Heroes Bootleg Edition

Release Date: After March 22, 2005
Game Version: Issue 3

The Bootleg edition was a special promotional release which was bundled with other products or distributed at actual retailers for a nominal fee.

City of Villains Pre-Order

Release Date: August 15, 2005
Game Version: N/A

The pre-order for City of Villains was available from different retailers, with each version granting a different in-game Arachnos helmet costume piece.

City of Villains

Release Date: October 31, 2005
Game Version: Issue 6

This game was the first "expanshalone" (stand-alone expansion) release that could be played either with or without City of Heroes.

City of Villains Collector's DVD Edition

Release Date: October 31, 2005
Game Version: Issue 6

The special edition of City of Villains contained several bonus physical and in-game items, as well as a convenient single installation DVD.

City of Heroes Value Pak

Release Date: March 22, 2006
Game Version: Issue 6

This was a special combined repackaging of City of Heroes and City of Villains with some bonus physical items.

Good Versus Evil Edition (First Release)

Release Date: September 26, 2006
Game Version: Issue 7

The Good Versus Evil edition was a combined version of City of Heroes and City of Villains on one DVD with special bonus in-game items. The initial release was available exclusively at Walmart stores.

Good Versus Evil Edition (Second Release)

Release Date: April 3, 2007
Game Version: Issue 7

The Good Versus Evil edition was later repackaged and rereleased to other retailers, with the same bonus in-game items as the original release.

City of Heroes (Jewel Case)

Release Date: After March 6, 2008
Game Version: Issue 11

This was a budget packaged version released to stores that filled the gap between the Good Versus Evil and Architect editions.

City of Heroes Game Card

Release Date: Beginning July 26, 2008
Game Version: N/A

The Game Card was a digital-only version available at multiple retailers that allowed 30 days of game time, with a bonus in-game item.

Mac Special Edition

Release Date: January 7, 2009
Game Version: Issue 13

The Mac Special Edition was a digital-only version for the Macintosh operating system. Existing players could purchase the special in-game items at a later date.

Architect Edition

Release Date: April 14, 2009
Game Version: Issue 14

The Architect Edition was released to celebrate the Mission Architect game feature, and included a choice of special bonus in-game items.

Going Rogue Digital Prepurchase

Release Date: March 2, 2010
Game Version: N/A

Going Rogue was first available for digital prepurchase through the NCsoft store and guaranteed early access to two powers sets.

Going Rogue GameStop Pre-Order

Release Date: May 28, 2010
Game Version: N/A

Going Rogue was also available for pre-order exclusively through GameStop with special bonus physical and in-game items.

Going Rogue

Release Date: August 17, 2010
Game Version: Issue 18

The Going Rogue Complete Collection contained all of the items from the digital prepurchase, as well as extra costume pieces, emotes, and a power.

City of Heroes Freedom

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Game Version: Issue 21

City of Heroes Freedom was the final digital-only relaunch of the game in a hybrid free-to-play model.

European Releases

City of Heroes Deluxe

Release Date: February 4, 2005
Game Version: Issue 3

The Deluxe version of City of Heroes gave Europeans their own servers and had the same bonus in-game items as the City of Heroes Collector's DVD Edition.