A collector was looking forward to the delivery of a rare piece of video game history. However, the excitement did not last long, as opening the package held an unpleasant surprise for the user.
What happened? The user Keripo reports in his post on X from 27.02.2026, that he had ordered a rare demo version of the visual novel Tsukhime Trial Edition.
The starting point of the package was reportedly Portugal according to the user. It was said to have been shipped by DHL Express. After an extended wait and confirmation via email, the user received the message that the shipment had been handed over to the American customs and border control for further inspection (via X).
The disappointment was even greater when he realized upon opening the package that the floppy disk containing the game was completely destroyed. This is also not the first time that hardware has been destroyed during transport: Another user painfully notes why “please do not throw” appears on packages in Germany.
Some users on X write in the comments of the post that possibly DHL marked the visual novel as illegal pornography and therefore destroyed the contents. According to the guidelines on the shipping provider’s website, it is prohibited to send pornographic materials, among other things.
Customs checks shipments according to specific guidelines
Why was the package content inspected? Customs opens packages for various reasons for verification purposes:
- Incomplete information such as missing, incorrect, or unfilled shipping labels.
- Discrepancies in product description, quantity, or weight.
- Random checks using specialized software, where shipments are tagged for further inspection (via mugroup).
Presumably, the user’s shipment also fell under this. However, it is unclear why exactly the package was opened and why the included demo disk was destroyed. A floppy disk, which first appeared on the market in 1973, has been outdated hardware for several decades (via schule-bw.de). This may have led to confusion during an inspection due to ignorance.
Not everyone is familiar with the old storage medium today. For example, individuals aged 6-18 recognize floppy disks only about 67 percent of the time and cannot properly identify them (via YouGov).
User loses not just a floppy disk, but a piece of history
Why is the loss of the demo tragic? The game was one of the few available copies that still exist worldwide. According to the user, there are only about 50 left in circulation.
Moreover, it is a stroke of luck to find such a rare demo disk of a 27-year-old game at all. Many physical demo versions have been lost over the years. Besides the unknown costs for the user, a rare collector’s item has been destroyed with the floppy disk, which is now lost forever.
While there are digital archivals of the full version from 2001, the demo is physically much harder to find.
Therefore, it is best to pick up collector’s items in person whenever possible. But not just the content of a floppy disk can be interesting for some people. Another user shows his creativity in a craft project. He recycles old hardware and creates something new: A creative user bought hundreds of worthless floppy disk drives and is now making music
