My Experience with Pre-Ordering Games and Why I Stopped

With the upcoming release of Life is Strange: Double Exposure, I found myself briefly caught up in the hype again. I even considered pre-ordering it. But then I saw the price—whether on PlayStation or PC, it’s a hefty sum. To top it off, there’s an Advanced Access edition that costs over €100, allowing me to play two episodes two weeks early. I couldn’t help but laugh. That’s when I remembered my past experiences with pre-ordering, and it brought me back to reality. Here’s why I no longer pre-order games.

The First Pre-Order: Biomutant (2021) on PS4

The first time I pre-ordered a game, it was Biomutant in 2021 for PlayStation 4. I was really hyped for it. From the trailers to the unique art style and promises of a dynamic open-world experience, it had all the ingredients to be a game I’d love. And honestly, it was fun! I put many hours into Biomutant and enjoyed the quirky characters, fun combat system, and vibrant world. But here’s the kicker: I stopped playing just before the end and never finished it. It’s been sitting in my library for three years, and only now am I finally planning to go back and complete it.

Life is Strange: True Colors (2021) on PS4

The next game I pre-ordered was Life is Strange: True Colors in 2021 for PlayStation. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Life is Strange series, so this was a no-brainer for me. I went all-in and pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition for $90, justifying the price because it came with Life is Strange Remastered. Here’s the thing—I loved True Colors. It delivered everything I wanted, but I’ve barely touched the remastered versions of the earlier games. Three years later, I’ve only now started playing them, and even then, they don’t add enough to justify the extra cost.

The Last of Part 1 (2023) on Steam Deck

Then came The Last of Us Part 1 in 2023. Despite the performance issues on PC and Steam Deck, I had an amazing time playing it. This is largely because I absolutely love The Last of Us. It’s one of my favorite games of all time, and I had already played the remaster on PlayStation 4 back in the day. Even with the frame drops and bugs, the emotional impact and the storytelling kept me hooked. But in hindsight, the pre-order wasn’t worth it at all. It wouldn’t have hurt to wait until the final patches were out. The game would have run smoother, and I could’ve saved myself some frustration.

Hogwarts Legacy (2023) on Steam Deck

Another big pre-order for me in 2023 was Hogwarts Legacy. I was really excited to dive into the Wizarding World, and while I had a lot of fun with the game, the launch was far from smooth. The game had significant frame rate drops, especially on the Steam Deck, where it struggled right out of the gate. I remember spending a lot of time fiddling with the settings, constantly adjusting them in hopes of making the game run more smoothly. I didn’t let the FPS drops ruin the experience, but I did lose a fair amount of time tweaking the performance—time I could’ve spent just enjoying the game. This wasn’t a one-time issue either. I went through the same frustrating process with Starfield and The Last of Us Part 1, spending one, two, even three hours testing settings just to get everything to run decently.

Starfield (2023) on Steam Deck

I also pre-ordered Starfield on Steam Deck in 2023 for $100, mainly to get early access three days before release. The idea of playing before everyone else felt exciting, but looking back, it was completely unnecessary. While I had fun with the game and genuinely liked it, it wasn’t worth the extra money just to play a few days early. The whole practice of paying more for early access is just marketing fluff. At the end of the day, the game is still the same, whether you play it on day one or a week later.

Advanced Access: A Money Grab You Should Avoid

This leads me to the larger issue of Advanced Access, which is total nonsense. Studios are charging €30 or more just to play a game a few days early. Why should I pay extra just to test a game a little before release? It’s absurd, and these companies are clearly exploiting our excitement. On top of that, many games, even outside the AAA category, are launching with serious bugs and performance issues. It’s becoming more common, and we’re the ones paying the price.

Pre-ordering games, especially on the Steam Deck, often means spending way too much time tinkering with settings. I’ve found myself endlessly searching the internet for the best configurations, switching between presets, and adjusting frame rates just to get games to run smoothly. That’s time wasted on tweaking when I should be enjoying the game itself.

Thankfully, there are some great YouTubers who test games on the Steam Deck when and sometimes even before they’re officially released. Channels like Steam Deck Gaming or sites like SDHQ do a fantastic job reviewing games and making recommendations. It’s worth waiting for their reports before spending your hard-earned money.

Conclusion: Patience Pays Off

What I’ve realized after these experiences is that pre-ordering games, especially at premium prices, just isn’t worth it anymore. So many games—AAA or not—launch with bugs and issues that make waiting a much smarter choice. The hype can make you feel like you’re missing out, but honestly, you’re just spending more money for the same product you could get later—sometimes at a discount and with fewer issues.

My advice: wait. There’s no rush. The game will still be there when it’s fully patched, and probably cheaper too. Plus, for Steam Deck owners, waiting for real-world performance reviews is key to avoiding disappointment.

What about you? Have you ever regretted pre-ordering a game or paying for early access? Share your experiences in the comments below—I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether pre-ordering is still worth it!