Hey friend! As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I know you‘ve likely faced the pre-order question before:
Should I put money down now for a game that isn‘t out yet? And will pre-ordering get me access any earlier than if I wait for launch day?"
These are great questions to tackle. With over a decade of industry analysis under my belt, I‘m excited to walk through this topic with you today!
Defining Pre-Orders – What Are We Talking About?
First, let‘s get on the same page about key terms.
Pre-ordering refers to purchasing a game before its official release date.
Rather than waiting for launch day reviews or impressions, you are committing money ahead of time. Retailers take your pre-order to guarantee you get a copy once available.
Pre-loading is when you download the full game files prior to release. This allows instant access upon unlock rather than having to wait through a large download.
Now that we‘re clear on definitions, let‘s examine whether pre-ordering translates to early gaming access or not.
The Core Pre-Order Timeline
I think you‘ll find this interesting – most standard pre-orders are structured to arrive on or right before launch day.
Publishers prefer maintaining control of the timeline versus sending copies out early. Let‘s walk through a few retailer examples:
- Amazon: Ships physical pre-orders to arrive on release day
- PlayStation Store: Digital pre-orders unlock at midnight on launch
- Best Buy: Ships to arrive "on or just before" release date
- GameStop: Physical pre-orders available for store pickup on launch day
While there can be occasional early shipments, it‘s not the norm. These policies suggest pre-ordering in and of itself does not accelerate delivery.
Why Pre-Order Timelines Are Strict
As a data analyst, I always ask "Why?" when analyzing industry trends. In this case, why are publishers so strict about pre-order/launch day alignment?
There are a few motivations:
- Avoid broken games going out: Day one patches are now standard given release schedules. Limiting early copies reduces the spread of pre-patch bugs.
- Prevent plot leaks: Major story details could spread if players get games weeks in advance. Maintaining secrecy keeps anticipation high.
- Build excitement: Carefully managing the hype cycle maximizes engagement at launch rather than letting excitement peter out.
- Review embargoes: Stopping reviews from going up too early retains more influence over launch perceptions. This affects sales momentum.
Securing positive press and hype means controlling early access. As an analyst, these incentive structures explain the strict timelines.
Can Pre-Loading Enable Early Play?
Now you might be wondering:
What about pre-loading? Doesn‘t that allow you to play early with pre-orders?
This is a great question! Here‘s how pre-loading works:
Many digital retailers let you pre-load – downloading all files ahead of release. This gives you:
- Faster setup (no waiting through a huge download)
- Ability to play the second the game unlocks
But here‘s the catch: Even with pre-loading, the executable remains locked until official launch time.
So you gain quick access at release, but not before.
Think of it as boarding the plane early, but not taking off until scheduled departure time. Pre-loading prepares everything for an on-time start.
Early Access Tends to Be Limited
Now, are there exceptions where pre-orders ship super early? Sure, we can find rare cases. But it‘s not the norm.
For example, some deluxe editions will advertise "play 3 days early!" as a sales incentive. But these offers are limited and not applicable to all pre-orders.
Even major promotions typically translate to hours of early play, not weeks. The focus stays on hyping the main launch.
So outside of those special editions, standard pre-orders remain locked to on-time delivery.
As a data-driven trend analyst, I prioritize looking at the typical case versus cherry-picked examples. The data suggests strict alignment with launch.
Evaluating the Pre-Order Decision
Given this deeper analysis, should you pre-order or not? Let‘s weigh the pros and cons:
Potential Benefits
- Guaranteed copy on launch day
- Pre-load for instant access when game unlocks
- Exclusive in-game bonuses
- Discounts compared to buying post-launch
- Support developers/projects you are excited for
Potential Drawbacks
- Cannot read reviews before purchasing
- Encourages anti-consumer industry practices (crunch, etc)
- Cannot easily return or refund like regular purchases
- Publishers may cut content to offer as pre-order bonuses
- Risk of buying something buggy or unfinished
- Lack of ability to try before buying
There are solid points on both sides of this debate. Pre-ordering is ultimately a personal choice dependent on your gaming habits and preferences.
For example, are launch day bonuses important enough to you to outweigh the lack of reviews? Or would you prefer to wait and make a more informed purchase?
Neither answer is universally right or wrong here. Evaluate based on your own gaming values.
Key Takeaways on Pre-Orders and Early Access
Let‘s recap the key conclusions from our discussion today:
- Pre-ordering reserves your copy but does not directly expedite delivery
- Most standard pre-order timelines are built around launch day arrival
- Pre-loading enables instant access when the game unlocks
- Some special editions provide genuine early play privileges
- Publishers tightly control pre-order shipping and access
- Weigh the bonuses against less purchasing flexibility when pre-ordering
Checking my notes, I believe this gives you a comprehensive overview of how pre-ordering relates to early access!
I‘m excited to hear your thoughts on these topics as a fellow gaming friend. Do you lean towards pre-ordering or waiting? What benefits matter most to your gaming experience?
The key is being an informed consumer – I hope breaking down the pre-order incentives and timeline gives you the knowledge to make the right choice for your gaming values!
Stay passionate and keep that controller warm! Game on!
