Active Matter Editions Compared: Standard to Elite Squad
The official contents of Standard, Advanced, Deluxe and Elite Squad, the difference between one-time grants and permanent slots, and the supported upgrade paths.
How to choose, in one line
Four editions, and they all play exactly the same content. You are not picking which one is stronger; you are deciding how much to spend on an easier start and some cosmetics.
Standard is enough. Advanced adds starting resources plus a first storage slot and replicator queue expansion. Deluxe adds cosmetics, vehicles, a robot dog, more slots and replicator recipes, and the Steam version includes the digital soundtrack. Elite Squad exists only on the Gaijin Store and is one Deluxe plus two Standard keys.
So: buy Standard to save money, Deluxe for cosmetics and vehicles, Elite Squad only if you want to hand a copy to a friend.
The official contents
| Item | Standard | Advanced | Deluxe | Elite Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | 25,000 | 60,000 | 185,000 | Same as Deluxe |
| Prime (one-time) | 300 | 1,300 | 5,500 | Same as Deluxe |
| Weapon sets | 5 | More | More | Same as Deluxe |
| Weapon modifications | 1 set | More | More | Same as Deluxe |
| Equipment sets | 10 | More | More | Same as Deluxe |
| Ammunition sets | 6 | More | More | Same as Deluxe |
| Storage expansions | — | First expansion | Three expansions | Same as Deluxe |
| Replicator queue expansions | — | First expansion | Two expansions | Same as Deluxe |
| Character shells | — | — | Reaper, Knight | Same as Deluxe |
| Shell camo | — | — | Rust | Same as Deluxe |
| Dog tag | — | — | Anomalous Zone Veteran | Same as Deluxe |
| Replicator recipes | — | Scout drone “Harpy” | Quad bike “Bonecrusher”, robot dog, scout drone “Harpy” | Same as Deluxe |
| Backup melee weapons | — | Brass knuckles knife “Bouncer” | Hatchet “Woodcutter’s Argument”, brass knuckles knife “Bouncer” | Same as Deluxe |
| Gun camo | — | — | Reptile ×20, Wood ×20 (with shop access) | Same as Deluxe |
| Tactical beacons | — | — | 10 | Same as Deluxe |
| Equipment / objective slots | — | — | +1 / +1 | Same as Deluxe |
| Digital soundtrack | — | — | Included on Steam | Same as Deluxe |
| Extra keys for friends | — | — | — | 2 Standard keys |
One-time grants versus permanent slots
This is the part that gets blurred when people compare editions.
Prime bundled with an edition is one-time — the store page says explicitly it is granted once. Credits are consumable too; spend them and they’re gone.
What actually persists are the storage expansions, replicator queue expansions and the +1 equipment and objective slots. Those do not run out.
So if your goal is long-term comfort, slot expansions are worth more than a few thousand extra Credits.
Upgrading later is supported
Gaijin supports tier-by-tier upgrades, so buying the cheap edition first is not a dead end. Standard and Advanced can be upgraded to Deluxe, and all three can be upgraded to Elite Squad. You buy the upgrade item on the matching storefront rather than repurchasing the base game.
Also worth knowing: at launch the old Premium Edition was upgraded and renamed Deluxe Edition, adding a second character shell, “Knight”. Existing Premium owners received that upgrade free.
Three traps to avoid
Elite Squad extra keys come with strings. The official FAQ states that if you hand the two Standard keys to friends and they activate them, then you request a refund, those activated keys are automatically deactivated for your friends.
Elite Squad does not carry the extra keys to Steam. Elite Squad owners receive the same-reward edition on Steam, but without the two extra keys.
Deluxe’s vehicles and robot dog change how you play, not your stats. The quad bike, robot dog and scout drone give you mobility, company and reconnaissance. That is why it is worth considering over Advanced.
Frequently asked
Will Deluxe make me stronger in PvP?
Not directly. It grants starting resources, cosmetics, slots and replicable vehicles and a robot dog. What decides fights is map knowledge, gear setup and whether you extract alive.
Can Steam players buy Elite Squad?
No. It is a Gaijin Store exclusive.
Is the soundtrack Deluxe-only?
No. It is sold separately on Steam as Original Game Soundtrack, Vol.1 for $8.99, and Deluxe includes it.
How is the upgrade price calculated?
Storefronts charge for the upgrade item individually and settle the difference themselves. We do not list unverified regional pricing.
Keep reading
Want the base price and refund rules first? See price. Wondering whether a cheaper edition caps your progression? Read progression. Want to know where it is sold? See platforms.