Are pre-orders harming the industry more than expected?
Are pre-orders harming the industry more than expected?
I often notice this topic gets a lot of attention. Whenever an unoptimized title (like Assassin's Creed: Unity) comes up, or when a release is plagued by issues (such as Halo: Master Chief Collection), people frequently argue that preordering wouldn’t have caused the problems. Whether this view holds up is debatable. Many who share this belief think you don’t need to preorder since digital downloads are common and eliminate stock worries. That’s accurate—PC gaming has made digital distribution so widespread that preordering isn’t always essential, though it can help in some cases. I personally enjoy playing a game from start to finish without spoilers, so experiencing it fresh is important for me. If a trusted developer like Naughty Dog handles the release well, preordering becomes less necessary. However, as someone who plays on both consoles and PC, I appreciate collectible versions—like the Witcher 3’s edition or the absence of a Collector’s Edition for Metal Gear Solid V. The downside is that developers sometimes raise prices after launch, as seen with Rockstar’s GTA V during its sale. Prices can jump, like Batman: Arkham Knight’s cost rising to $70 after launch. Paying more just because you didn’t preorder feels unfair, since you could have gotten it on Day One. I’m caught in a situation where I sometimes feel taken advantage of, but I have no other choice. What do you think about preordering? TL;DR: It can be counterproductive if not done wisely. Your perspective matters.
Early access causes the most damage. Second place comes to pre-ordering.
You think you can cut costs by waiting a week for the Collector's Edition. LOL, here’s the link: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40...n&_sacat=0 This is Ebay. The CE of Witcher 3 costs $50 more than the base version, and since my country doesn’t import it, I had to preorder from Gamestop. Didn’t you also notice publishers engaging in questionable practices, like Rockstar making Grand Theft Auto V at a similar price during the sale?
Ordering ahead offers little benefit. When pricing is high, consider pre-ordering or holding off until it becomes more affordable.
Collectors edition is merely an unnecessary expense; if you're purchasing it, don't worry about cutting costs.
The main issue with pre-orders is the limited access to exclusive content. Many games restrict regular players from getting certain bonuses or characters unless they pre-order. This practice is becoming more widespread and needs to end. Additionally, pre-ordering for DLCs or other perks feels unfair, as it doesn’t provide real value beyond discounts. If a collector’s edition includes special items like plastic figures or exclusive art books, it’s okay to sell them separately, but the core game experience should remain consistent for all players.
I share the opinion about the entire pre-order DLC hype—it bothers me a lot. I’m just wondering why so many people link today’s gaming issues with pre-orders.