Hear Me Out, We All Need To Stop Pre-Ordering Games from Companies like Ubisoft

The release of every new Ubisoft title evokes a collective sigh of apprehension and disappointment. Its reputation hangs on in the gaming community by a few strings, and every subsequent title that feels like the previous one further frays these connections.

However, despite the general opinion of companies such as Ubisoft and EA, gamers still engage in a baffling trend that encourages these entities to continue their behavior: pre-orders. It’s offered by all studios, both large and small, but is there really a reason to prop up the ego of a company that doesn’t care about its product or fans?

Gamers Pre-Ordered to Ensure Access and Work Against Scarcity

To say gaming has advanced by leaps and bounced in the past few years would be an understatement. From its humble beginnings, the gaming industry is now a titan in the market worth billions of dollars. This advancement is reflected in both the quantity of the games and how easy it is to access them.

In the past, when logistics weren’t as optimized as they are now, not every area of every country would have access to new media. Be it movies or games, sometimes it wasn’t possible to transport the media to that specific region due to environmental, geopolitical, or financial factors.

So, gaming stores and companies began to offer pre-orders to give buyers peace of mind and guaranteed access to the next hot title. Pre-orders even came with bonus physical items, such as figurines or other merchandise, which justified a slightly elevated price tag. But the mechanisms of the past don’t always suit the circumstances of the present.

The digital revolution is taking every industry by storm, and gaming is no different. We now have companies and studios focusing their efforts on digital-first, and in some cases only, releases. Online stores such as Steam, the PS Store, Ubisoft Store, Microsoft Store, and more have become the new local gaming outlet.

Digitizing Game Distribution Negates the Need for Pre-Orders

With the ability to access a near-infinite library of games with just a few clicks, it’s no wonder many physical outlets for gaming have been shut down over the years. Digital releases, while not considered ideal initially, are now one of the most common ways to purchase their titles.

One of the biggest advantages for companies is the reduced burden on logistics to ensure the physical copies of their titles reach the designated stores in time for release. Don’t get us wrong, physical copies are still very much in demand, as many players prefer to own the game itself rather than a digital version that can be revoked at any time.

What digitization of access to games does is eliminate the need for pre-ordering a title. When you can purchase and download your tits in a matter of minutes, why put down money early on a non-scarce resource? The pre-order bonuses are often lackluster, and the concept of ‘Early Access’ is a scam. Those who pay to play the game ‘X number of days before launch’ are not getting early access; the title is delayed for those who refuse to pay.

Holding off until the title’s release lets you better gauge if the game is worth your hard-earned money. Mediocrity in gaming has become a topic of discussion for many in the community, and the initial launch experiences of titles such as Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 reinforce this sentiment.

Ubisoft, EA, and Bethesda Thrive on Pre-Order Statistics

For these companies, showcasing a strong pre-order record is, in many ways, more important than the success of the title itself. This is because investors want to see how much hype the company can generate to bring in revenue even before they launch a product. It’s a flawed metric in itself, as buyers can cancel their pre-orders at any time, and it would not be reflected in the overall statistics.

Getting excited about a new release is a great feeling, especially when it’s a franchise close to the heart. It’s also helpful for smaller developers who want to carve a niche in the market. However, despite the controversies and criticisms of both Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the upcoming title has become one of the highest pre-ordered games in several countries!

By showing investors they can bring in a strong pre-order wave, they encourage more funding to be diverted to future projects. One may think this is a good thing, as funding for new projects would mean more games for fans. However, these companies are focused on the bottom line rather than gamer satisfaction, as was evidenced by the early experiences with Star Wars Outlaws.

With future funding secured through pre-order numbers, companies are happy to create a strong impression of the title rather than a comprehensive game. It’s why we see so many issues cropping up the moment the game is available to the masses, and companies then release early patches to fix the many bugs and glitches.

Pre-ordering is an age-old tradition for many, and it’s still a great way to back indie developers. However, pre-ordering digital AAA titles from companies with a track record of not delivering the best experiences at launch is a trend that needs to be phased out, at least until they start giving us better launches.

What are your thoughts on pre-ordering games? Let us know in the comments below if you think it’s an outdated practice.