this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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The fact that you can "pre-buy" a digital game is insane to me!
Like what's the point! You still can't play it until it comes out!
And games these days are digital copies. It’s not like the supply is limited.
Last time I pre-ordered a game was Diablo 3. I could choose a hard copy for RSP or a digital copy for an extra "convenience fee". As if that wasn't ridiculous enogh, I ordered the hard copy and on release day, they told me that I was on a queue since so many people pre-ordered and they ran out of copies.
I tried to cancel my pre-order and these actual scumbags told me, I couldn't cancel until I received my copy. Pristine customer support, I really felt they did everything to accomodate my needs. So, I contacted Actiblizz to let them know about the practices of their "official reseller" and the next day, my pre-order was canceled and my money was being wired back.
Also the game was trash, but that's besides the point.
Diablo 3 was also the last game I pre-ordered. I took the day off work on release day, had the game downloaded, and spent the next 14 hours on an error screen because their servers were overloaded for an always online SINGLE PLAYER GAME!
Fucking bullshit.
I may be mistaken but isn't Diablo 4 also force online?
It is tragically.
You definitely dodged a bullet, albeit you have to jump through hoops and headaches. Your scenario is one of many why preordering isn’t a good thing, especially with an infinite digital product.
Furthermore, it parallels the recent talk around lemmy how some companies are making it hard to cancel subscriptions.
All of it treads a soft “lock-in” policy that may turn into a hard “lock-in” to some who are not as assertive as you. I know some people would just “let it go” in the spirit of “avoiding confrontation”.
Worst is, "buying" digital games off a store/launcher doesn't mean you own it.
You can move your games to a different folder, the storefront won't be able to remove them. But that requires you to download all your games and keep them stored somewhere.
I have a few games I do that with.
Technically you didn't own the games you bought on physical media, either.
But you own the physical media it's on, meaning the "license" to own it can be traded, sold, etc.
I said "technically". What more do you want from me?
If it allows you to pre-download it so you can play as soon as it's available it makes some sense.
That's what I thought. But after pre-ordering a game recently, when I went to launch, the process of unpacking/unencrypting took at least as long as downloading the thing from scratch.
So if you've a good internet connection and a mid cpu like me, pre-downloading is not an advantage.
The only situation I can think of where it makes sense is where you have the money now, and don't think you'll have the will power to not waste it before release day.
...which, if you're a teen/young person, I could totally see that being a legitimate concern.
Don't they often not charge you until the game is delivered (or in the case of digital, unlocked)?