TL;DR – Edition Comparison at a Glance
- Standard Edition — $19.99: The complete base game. Nothing locked. Full story, all missions, co-op, and progression.
- Deluxe Edition — $29.99: Everything in Standard, plus the Ceremonial Armor Set, the Axe of the Gods weapon cosmetic, and access to a post-launch content expansion.
- Deluxe Edition Upgrade — $9.99: Already own Standard? Upgrade to Deluxe at any time for $9.99 on Steam. No need to rebuy.
- Neither edition includes a gameplay advantage over the other — the Deluxe extras are cosmetic and future content.
- PS5 exclusive bonus: Every PS5 buyer — Standard or Deluxe — gets the free Sonai Magistrate Armor Set at launch. Not available on Xbox or PC.
- The post-launch expansion has no release date or content details yet — it is currently in development.
Crimson Moon Standard vs Deluxe Edition – The Full Breakdown
Crimson Moon launched September 1, 2026 from developer ProbablyMonsters. There are just two editions — no collector’s tier, no battle pass, no confusing bundle ladder. The split is clean and easy to understand. Here’s everything each edition actually contains.
Crimson Moon Standard Edition – $19.99
The Standard Edition includes the full Crimson Moon game. Everything in the base game is accessible from day one — all three districts of Gildenarch, all missions, the full progression system, the Sanctus Clypeus hub, all NPC interactions, two-player online co-op, and every boss encounter including the Dead Gods. Nothing in the story or core gameplay is gated behind the Deluxe Edition.
This is the version ProbablyMonsters designed as the primary entry point. Game director David Lesperance was direct about the pricing strategy — the studio wanted the game to be accessible to as many players as possible, and $19.99 reflects that intent. You are not getting a cut-down experience at this price.
Crimson Moon Deluxe Edition – $29.99
The Deluxe Edition includes everything in the Standard Edition, plus three additional items:
- Ceremonial Armor Set — an exclusive cosmetic armor set for your Nephilim. ProbablyMonsters has not published stat details for this set. Given that combat progression in Crimson Moon is built around finding and Purifying gear during runs, the Ceremonial Armor Set is best understood as an appearance item — a way to customise how your Nephilim looks — rather than a power advantage.
- Axe of the Gods — a weapon cosmetic shaped like a guitar. The name is not accidental. ProbablyMonsters commissioned original boss music from metal musicians including HEALTH, Jared Dines, Misha Mansoor of Periphery, and Ricky Armellino. The Axe of the Gods is a nod to that musical identity — a guitar-axe for a game with heavy metal boss fights.
- Post-Launch Content Expansion — access to one future downloadable expansion currently in development. ProbablyMonsters has confirmed the expansion exists and is included with the Deluxe Edition, but has not announced its content, size, or release date. The official language on both the Steam page and the developer’s website states that expansion content, features, and release timing have not been finalized and are subject to change.
Crimson Moon Deluxe Edition Upgrade – $9.99
If you buy the Standard Edition and later decide you want the Deluxe content, you do not need to repurchase the game. A Deluxe Edition Upgrade is available on Steam for $9.99. This gives Standard Edition owners access to all Deluxe content — the Ceremonial Armor Set, the Axe of the Gods, and the post-launch expansion entitlement — whenever they are ready to add it.
This matters for your buying decision. Because the upgrade path exists, buying Standard on day one does not lock you out of Deluxe content. You can wait to see the expansion details before committing. If the expansion looks good when it’s announced, pay the $9.99 then. If it doesn’t interest you, you’ve saved money without missing any base gameplay.
Standard vs Deluxe Edition – Side by Side
| Content | Standard — $19.99 | Deluxe — $29.99 |
|---|---|---|
| Full base game | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| All missions and districts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Two-player online co-op | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Full progression system | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ceremonial Armor Set (cosmetic) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Axe of the Gods (weapon cosmetic) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Post-launch content expansion | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Sonai Magistrate Armor Set (PS5 only) | ✅ PS5 buyers only | ✅ PS5 buyers only |
The PS5 Exclusive Bonus – Sonai Magistrate Armor Set
Regardless of which edition you buy on PlayStation 5, you receive the Sonai Magistrate Armor Set for free at launch. This is a platform-level bonus from ProbablyMonsters as a thank you to the PlayStation community. It is not a Deluxe perk, it is not a pre-order bonus, and it is not time-limited in a way that’s been publicly stated.
Critically: Xbox and PC players do not receive this armor set, even in the Deluxe Edition. If having the Sonai Magistrate Armor Set is important to you, PS5 is the only platform where it’s available.
PS5 Pro players get one additional hardware-level perk — native support for upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution), which delivers a sharper image quality compared to the standard PS5 experience.
What Is the Post-Launch Expansion?
This is the most important unknown in the entire Deluxe Edition decision. The post-launch expansion is confirmed to exist and to be included with the Deluxe Edition. But as of launch day, ProbablyMonsters has not revealed what it contains, how large it is, or when it will release.
The official Steam page states clearly that expansion content, features, and release timing have not been finalized and are subject to change. That is an honest disclaimer — but it also means you are committing $10 to something you can’t fully evaluate yet.
The smart play for most people is to start with Standard and wait. When ProbablyMonsters announces the expansion with full details, you’ll be able to judge whether it’s worth the $9.99 upgrade based on actual content — not a promise. Since the upgrade path exists and costs the same whether you upgrade on day one or later, there’s no financial penalty for waiting.
Do the Cosmetics Affect Gameplay?
No. Neither the Ceremonial Armor Set nor the Axe of the Gods has been confirmed to provide any stat advantage in gameplay. In a game built around finding, Purifying, and upgrading gear through runs, cosmetic items exist as appearance options rather than power tools. ProbablyMonsters designed the Deluxe extras to be attractive to players who want to customize their look from day one — not to create a pay-to-win advantage.
The Deluxe Edition does not change:
- Mission structure or access
- Difficulty or challenge
- Co-op features
- The progression system or gear drops
- Story content in the base game
Which Edition Should You Buy?
Here’s the honest breakdown depending on your situation:
Buy Standard Edition if…
- You want to try the game at the lowest entry point.
- You’re not bothered about cosmetics and prefer to wait for expansion details before spending more.
- You’re budget-conscious and $19.99 already feels like good value.
- You want to evaluate the game first before committing to the Deluxe upgrade.
Buy Deluxe Edition if…
- You already know you’re going to be invested in this game long-term.
- You love cosmetic customization and want the Ceremonial Armor Set and Axe of the Gods from day one.
- You’re happy to guarantee future expansion access now and don’t want to think about it later.
- An extra $10 at the time of purchase feels worth the peace of mind.
Where to Buy Crimson Moon
Both editions are available on all platforms right now. Pick your platform below:
- Crimson Moon on Steam
- Crimson Moon on PlayStation Store (includes free Sonai Magistrate Armor Set)
- Crimson Moon on Xbox
- Crimson Moon on Epic Games Store
For the official breakdown from ProbablyMonsters, visit the official Crimson Moon site.
More Crimson Moon Guides
Now that you’ve sorted out which edition to buy, here’s where to go next:
- Crimson Moon Beginner’s Guide — builds, combat tips, hub NPCs, and how progression works across runs.
- Crimson Moon PC Requirements — full minimum and recommended spec list, Windows 11 notes, and GPU guidance.
- Can You Play Crimson Moon on Game Pass? — the honest answer on subscriptions, what you need for Xbox co-op, and whether a Game Pass addition is coming.
Frequently Asked Questions – Crimson Moon Editions
Is there any gameplay locked behind the Deluxe Edition?
No. The Standard Edition includes the complete base game — every mission, district, boss, progression mechanic, and co-op feature. The Deluxe Edition adds two cosmetic items and access to a future expansion that hasn’t been detailed yet. No missions, story content, or gameplay systems are exclusive to Deluxe. Both editions play the same game.
Can I upgrade from Standard to Deluxe later?
Yes. A Deluxe Edition Upgrade is available on Steam for $9.99. Standard Edition owners can purchase this upgrade at any time and receive the Ceremonial Armor Set, the Axe of the Gods weapon cosmetic, and the post-launch expansion entitlement. ProbablyMonsters confirmed this upgrade path exists so that players aren’t pressured to commit to Deluxe at launch before the expansion has been fully revealed.
Does the PS5 Sonai Magistrate Armor Set come with both editions?
Yes. Every PlayStation 5 player receives the Sonai Magistrate Armor Set for free at launch — whether they buy the Standard or Deluxe Edition. It is a platform-level bonus from ProbablyMonsters and is not tied to which edition you purchase. Xbox and PC players do not receive this bonus regardless of edition.
What exactly is the Axe of the Gods?
The Axe of the Gods is a weapon cosmetic shaped like a guitar-axe. ProbablyMonsters commissioned original boss fight music from metal musicians including HEALTH, Jared Dines, Misha Mansoor of Periphery, and Ricky Armellino. The Axe of the Gods is a direct reference to that musical collaboration — it’s designed to look like a literal guitar shaped as a weapon, matching the heavy metal tone of the boss encounters. It is a cosmetic item and does not affect weapon stats or combat performance.
