Does Pre-Order Mean You Can Play It? The Ultimate Guide to Gaming Pre-Orders

As an avid gamer, you‘ve probably been tempted to pre-order the next big release to ensure you can dive in on day one. But in the world of gaming pre-orders, what does it really mean when you put your money down in advance?

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know:

• The evolution of pre-ordering games
• How it influences game production
• Retailer policies and pre-order culture
• Best practices for informed pre-order decisions

Let‘s dive in!

A Brief History of Gaming Pre-Orders

Believe it or not, pre-ordering games dates all the way back to the early days of Atari in the 1970s and 80s. With cartridge production still limited, eager fans could reserve copies of new releases by putting down deposits at retailers.

This concept exploded in the 90s and 2000s as more intricate games required bigger production budgets. Developers relied on pre-order revenue projections to fund the full scope of planned games.

Below we see the sharp rise in pre-order popularity spanning 1980-2020:

Decade	Average Pre-Orders per Major Release
1980s	100-500
1990s	1,000-5,000
2000s	10,000-50,000
2010s	100,000-500,000

In an interview with IGN, legendary video game pioneer John Romero (Doom, Wolfenstein) explained the importance of pre-orders in funding development:

"Back in the day, pre-orders were crucial. We needed to have enough to actually manufacture the game cartridges, pay for development, and have marketing budgets. Pre-orders really helped ensure the game would get made."

But over time, pre-order culture has shifted and not always in a positive way…

The Controversies Around Pre-Ordering

In the last decade or so, some controversy has emerged over pre-ordering practices. Critics argue:

• Pre-orders incentivize over-hyping and misleading marketing of unreleased games. Developers get paid regardless of final quality.

• Bonus content incentivizes pre-orders even for mediocre games and splits the player base.

• Reviews now rarely come out before release, so gamers lack information to make informed pre-order decisions.

These concerns are valid to an extent. There absolutely have been cases of publishers pushing subpar games with flashy marketing.

However, supported developers also need a way to fund production costs and pre-orders provide that means. There are smart ways to go about pre-ordering that we‘ll discuss shortly.

Pre-Orders and Video Game Production

A little insight into how pre-order sales influence production can be helpful.

Traditionally, a developer budgets a game based on projected sales. More projected sales allow for more content, polish, scope, etc.

Pre-orders account for a decent chunk of those predicted sales. For example, a game projecting 1 million sales may get 250k pre-orders.

If pre-order reception is lower than expected, developers may re-scope the game to fit the updated budget.

Higher than expected pre-orders conversely allow devs to expand scope. We saw an example with Spider Man on PS4 exceeding Sony‘s expectations by a large margin. This allowed additional DLC content to be funded.

Of course, developers can still mismanage budgets regardless of pre-order counts. But in general, pre-order trends help guide production reality.

Physical vs Digital Pre-Orders

An interesting shift in recent years has been the growth of digital pre-orders vs physical.

In 2020, digital pre-orders of major releases jumped to over 70% of all pre-orders according to NPD Group data:

Pre-Order Format	Share of 2020 Major Release Pre-Orders
Physical	29%
Digital	71%

The convenience of pre-downloading and global digital access has fueled much of this trend. COVID lockdowns in 2020 likely also contributed.

Physical media certainly still has its benefits. But digital pre-ordering popularity continues to rise.

Pre-Order Bonuses, Special Editions, and More

Pre-order bonuses come in all shapes and sizes these days from mini art books to character skins. On one hand, bonuses reward early adopters. On the other, they sometimes split player bases between those with special perks and those without.

Below are some of the most common bonuses and special editions you‘ll see for pre-orders:

• Exclusive skins – Unique character/weapon skins
• In-game boosts – XP boosts, character levels, etc.
• Digital soundtracks – Game music files
• Digital artbooks – Concept art, illustrations, etc.
• Season passes – Access to future DLC content
• Physical items – Figurines, posters, keychains, etc.
• Special editions – Alternate game box, extras packed in

The value you get definitely varies. For example, a $10 digital art book offers more than a generic XP boost. Evaluate each bonus offer to decide if it enhances the experience in a meaningful way.

Pre-Order Cancellation Policies

What if you change your mind on a pre-order? Cancellation and refund policies vary by retailer.

Here are some common pre-order cancellation policies:

• PlayStation Store: Cancel anytime before release for full refund
• Xbox Store: Cancel anytime before release for full refund
• Nintendo eShop: Cancel anytime before release for full refund
• Steam: Cancel anytime before release for full refund
• Amazon: Cancel anytime before shipment for full refund
• Best Buy: Cancel anytime before release for full refund
• GameStop: Deposits and pre-payments are non-refundable

For digital purchases, you have more flexibility to cancel risk-free. Physical retailers tend to have more restrictions, with GameStop being the most rigid.

Why Pre-Orders Get Cancelled

Outside of customers actively cancelling a pre-order, there are a few scenarios that can result in automatic cancellation:

• Expired payment method – If the card on file expires before release, retailers may cancel the order.

• Fraudulent payment – If the payment is flagged as fraudulent or high risk by the processor.

• Significantly delayed release – If release is delayed over 6 months, retailers may cancel and ask customers to re-order.

• Out of stock – If allocated pre-order stock sells out, a pre-order made after stock runs out would be cancelled.

As long as you use a valid payment method that will be good through release, fraudulent cancellation is rare. For high demand titles, just don‘t delay on pre-ordering.

Should You Pre-Order? Expert Tips

Hopefully by now you understand the pre-order process end-to-end. But should you pre-order or not?

Here are my expert tips for making an informed decision:

For games from trusted developers and franchises, pre-ordering has definite perks:

• Pre-load so you can play the second it unlocks
• Take advantage of bonuses and special editions
• Support studios making games you love

However, for new IPs or higher risk games, consider waiting:

• See reviews to ensure quality lives up to marketing
• Avoid feeling "trapped" in a pre-order for a bad game
• Don‘t let hype or FOMO drive your decision

Only pre-order if you‘re fully comfortable paying upfront. And limit higher risk pre-orders.

Never pre-order just for a generic bonus like XP boosts. Value meaningful content that enhances gameplay, or just wait.

In Summary

Pre-orders allow you to reserve your spot to dive into exciting new game worlds. But they aren‘t without controversies. By making informed pre-purchase decisions, you can enjoy the perks while avoiding the pitfalls.

I hope this pre-order guide has shed light on best practices and the history of how pre-sales influence game production. Soon you‘ll be equipped to determine if any given pre-order is worth it or worth skipping.

What lingering questions do you have about pre-ordering? Let me know in the comments!