Some players are reporting that some Best Buy and Gamestop stores (as well as other retail outlets) are not offering pre-orders of the Shadow Odyssey expansion, or even planning on stocking it all! It seems to depend on where you live, if you can get a retail box of TSO in the store.

But it's okay, because community manager Kirstie explains:

There is no retail pre-order item. However, some retail boxes will come with the dire bear pewter figurine, and as I understand it those are more likely to come in the first wave of boxes that get to stores.

All retail boxes, whether you tell the stores you want it before hand or go in and buy it from them/order it online on or after launch day will allow you to get a dire bear in-game. There are no special codes, it is tied to you consuming the key in the box on your account.

The only pre-order item out there is the shadow beast in a cage house item and that is for people who pre-order the digital download (ie, buy a digital download before Nov 18th).

I hope that clears it up.

- Kirstie

You can still order online from a number of outlets, and get same day shipping of the box if you want to spend the extra bucks.