By: Zi Yuan Wong
March 2025
Video game announcements never fail to get me excited. It’s that thrilling time when we mark our calendars and gather with friends, eagerly anticipating the reveal of dazzling new trailers of our favorite games. As the excitement builds to a crescendo with each trailer’s climax, we’re often treated to exclusive goodies–like rare in-game items and coveted physical collectibles from the collector’s edition. But of course, these treasures are only ours if we decide to take the plunge and pre-order the game immediately.
When we see the enticing extra content offered for our favorite games, it’s hard to resist clicking that shiny ‘Pre-Order Game’ button. After all, who wouldn’t want exclusive in-game perks and collectibles for the titles we love? However, in today’s gaming world, pre-ordering may not be the wisest choice—and the reasons go beyond simply saving ourselves from bankruptcy.
Trailers may paint a stunning picture, but the final release of a game often strays from those glossy promises. Without the benefit of professional reviews, we’re left guessing whether a new game will be worth the investment—or even functional at launch. Video game marketing tends to sell a dream, capitalizing on gamers’ fear of missing out (FOMO) by hyping up gameplay and features to nudge us into spending extra. Unfortunately, hyped-up titles can sometimes arrive riddled with game-breaking bugs, missing promised features, or stripped of key content. Paying full price (and then some) for a chaotic, unfinished game is enough to sour anyone’s mood—and erode trust between gamers and the company behind it.
With most games now available online—often at discounted prices—spending extra just to play a game a few days early feels unnecessary. In the “old” days of physical copies and limited print runs, pre-orders helped gauge demand and ensure players didn’t miss out. However, with ever-improving internet technology and the rise of digital storefronts like Steam, pre-ordering has largely lost its relevance for consumers. Plus, digital games frequently go on sale, making it hard to justify paying more to play early, aside from giving in to a fleeting sense of FOMO.
Remember those enticing pre-order bonuses? They often turn out to be far less valuable than they seem. In the end, many of us just want the game itself, and the flashy extras like cosmetic items can quickly fade into obscurity. Physical rewards, on the other hand, may not live up to expectations—if they even make it to us at all. Take the infamous Fallout 76 debacle as an example. Bethesda Softworks promised a high-quality canvas bag as part of their $200 game collection, but after numerous delays, the bag arrived six months late and was made of cheap nylon instead of the promised canvas. The resulting backlash severely damaged the goodwill fans once had toward Bethesda—a reputation they’re still struggling to repair.
Although pre-ordering games remains a widespread practice, it has lost much of its practicality. With game quality often uncertain at launch, and titles readily available for purchase after release, there’s little incentive to commit early. The so-called pre-order bonuses rarely justify the additional cost, especially when new games are already priced at $60—a hefty investment on its own. Paying even more to secure a pre-order feels increasingly like a waste of money.
With countless new games launching daily across various platforms, we’re certainly not short on options to explore. So, rather than shelling out for yet another Call of Duty Collector’s Deluxe Master Edition for the umpteenth time, why not shake things up a bit? Allow me to recommend something refreshing: a charming little game called Balatro. It might just be the unexpected gem you didn’t know you needed!