I would never pre-order a game, except...

Teaf · 19 Nov 2021 at 08:58

Nearly all of my pre-orders are from Steam, so it doesn't really matter if I pay in advance or not as I can just get a refund later if it's bad.

robfosters · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:02

DEL 707 said:
Recently we've have a bunch of less then stellar releases. Games I had thought about pre-ordering.

Thankfully I havn't pre-ordered a game since before No Mans Sky. That game cemented my policy of not buying games until the reviews are out.

Except for Totalwar: Warhammer 3, as soon as pre-orders were announced, I jumped at it, especially with the bonus race!
I love the Warhammer games, I know it might launch in a bit of a mess, but I have faith that CA will sort it out and provide a game that surpasses the rest of the series.

Of course I could be very wrong. But are there any games out there that you would pre-order in a heartbeat, or developers you trust to deliver on their promises?

ChrisUK1983 said:
Ill be another who probably pre-orders TW Warhammer 3, didn't realise there was a bonus race for pre-ordering. Generally don't pre-order anymore after getting bitten with Anthem and Battlefield 5.

That’s gone be on gamepass at launch you know

Fluffybob · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:10

Halflife 3 if it ever gets completed, loved the previous games so much.

Begbie · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:12

Why preorder? They're digital now, wait a few hours for the reviews

Bluecube · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:16

The only game I’ve ever preordered was Doom Eternal. Never again.

Darujhistan · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:28

Andrew_McP said:
The last game I pre-ordered was Star Citizen. Can't think why I decided I probably wouldn't bother again.

You sure know how to pick 'em!

As for me, never, even if you trust the developer, there's just no point and because there's still the chance THIS happens to be the first time they release a disaster.

Everyone trusted CDPR...nah they'll never sell me a POS...it's CDPR...

I'd love to know why people can't hold off from pre-ordering and just to wait to see what the game is like, people found out what the GTA mobile port disaster trilogy was like within hours.

I buy games when they're finished and a 1/3rd of the price, if not much less, or in many cases free, I game for virtually nothing now.

Early access and pre-order culture has destroyed gaming, but people just cannot help themselves in acting against their own interests for what amounts to a 5 second hit of shopping dopamine...

Nate75 · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:39

Why pre-order anything though?

If you have a slow connection and the game offers a pre-load then maybe I guess?

But even then can people not wait for a game to download.

Or is it cos you get an amaaaaaaazing in game skin or something lols...

y2ck01 · 19 Nov 2021 at 09:59

The only game I've pre-ordered since SWTOR is Baldur's Gate 3. I'm enjoying the Early Access very much and they're really listening to feedback.

Sp00n · 19 Nov 2021 at 10:32

I have never pre-ordered, I don't really understand why you would.

Woodsta888 · 19 Nov 2021 at 10:36

robj20 said:
Beta tester surely.

You see CP2077 when it came out and BF 2042? Alpha. PRE alpha even.

Beta testing is to iron out the last few bugs that aren't obvious / easy to find /stick out a mile and collecting mass performance stats.

The state that so called AAA games from big devs come out today, is Alpha - And I'm being generous!

I imagine the goal posts have moved though from what a devs 'suits' make devs send games out as Beta. And people PAY full whack to experience it!

ICEx21 · 19 Nov 2021 at 11:24

Andrew_McP said:
The last game I pre-ordered was Star Citizen. Can't think why I decided I probably wouldn't bother again.

I think you could buy Star Citizen in 5 years time and it would still be a pre-order.

chroniclard · 19 Nov 2021 at 11:31

Given the digital formats these days, day 1 or earlier reviews I find pre-ordering to be mostly pointless. Yeah you sometimes get a small incentive to pre-order but its mostly a useless cosmetic and/or a waste of time.

.Lethal · 19 Nov 2021 at 11:32

greatash said:
Significantly cheaper if you use the right sites. I've pre-ordered Elden Ring for £30 from cdkeys, the price goes up the closer to release.

OK this is an exception here, CDKeys have put up games much less during this period (Mass Effect Trilogy comes to mind) that stayed low for a few days after release but this isn't the case for long and eventually all games go much lower. It also isn't always the case and is such a risky decision.

robj20 said:
I'm thinking of pre-ordering Gran Turismo 7. I generally don't pre-order any games though, not worth the risk these days.

I'd actually pre-order this too if I was going to play it loads, you get some pre-order bonuses and it's safe to say they have learnt not to release a game like GTSport anytime soon :cry:

bayo000 said:
I pre-ordered Diablo II remastered, not even played it yet. Currently fight the urge to pre-order Farming Simulator 22.

Ah dude it's 25% off currently in the Black Friday Blizzard Store Sale.

bayo000 · 19 Nov 2021 at 11:36

.Lethal said:
Ah dude it's 25% off currently in the Black Friday Blizzard Store Sale.

To be fair I did it mostly to play D3 in the mean time and I got a fair few hours out of that. I'm sure I'll get round to playing D2 at some point.

Nate75 · 19 Nov 2021 at 12:43

Some might say pre-ordering does more harm than good for gaming?

Maybe if I was a ten year old or something.

Each to their own I guess but it's not for me.

almoststew1990 · 19 Nov 2021 at 14:21

Mafia 4 or maybe a mafia 2 remake like ME1

E. GTA 6 and Elder Scrolls 6 I would also pre order on the basis I'll be buying them regardless of review / quality because I am a loser.

.Lethal · 19 Nov 2021 at 14:21

Nate75 said:
Some might say pre-ordering does more harm than good for gaming?

Some people feel it allows companies to release any old crap in any state they see fit because they already have that pre order money.

We’ve also seen in extreme cases with cp2077 that you don’t always get away with that.

Andrew_McP · 19 Nov 2021 at 17:04

ICEx21 said:
I think you could buy Star Citizen in 5 years time and it would still be a pre-order.

If I were Chris Roberts (and who would want to be?) I'd close the project down quietly one weekend and send every backer a t-shirt. "I bought Star Citizen & all I got was this lousy T-shirt". I'd appreciate that more than the game now.

Anyone who's spent more than $5k on pretend spaceships** would get a bonus: "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" printed on the back.

[**Disclaimer, I spent about £700 on pretend iRacing cars and tracks]

Amatsubu · 20 Nov 2021 at 09:35

Never have and never will, don't see the point.
Also, CP2077 is a fine example of why you shouldn't, no matter how hyped you are.

Klunt Bumskrint · 20 Nov 2021 at 10:08

I have never preordered. I don't agree with giving money to devs before we find out if they've delivered on promises, or even just a good game. They're just no need to preorder. I even setup a steam group back in 2015 because I was so annoyed by the idea. (I don't update it these days)