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[DoubleClutch]

Rarely do I believe buying games on day one is worth it. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I have bought a game on the day of release. I find getting the game at a later time far better. Here are a few key reasons why:

1. Your dollar goes further.

By the time you get around to buying the game, chances are it will be heavily discounted, available on Game Pass, free on Epic Games, etc. You’d be surprised by how games at $60 a pop plus DLC and expansions adds up quickly. You’re also not required to keep up with the latest hardware. In the long run, this presents significant savings to you.

2. Performance issues and bugs get fixed through patches.

Almost every game needs a day one patch, and even after that it takes time before all the bugs are ironed out. Baldur’s Gate 3 was receiving hot fixes and patches for about a year. It took Nvidia a couple of weeks to release a hot fix for their drivers to get rid of micro stutter in Indiana Jones.

Playing the game at a later date is the best way to play because all the fixes and improvements will be in by then.

3. There is a massive backlog to get through.

There are so many good games out there and not enough time to get to them all. Chances are you have a huge backlog. By the time you work through it the above two items will be realized.

4. You are protected against marketing hype, politics, and other controversial issues.

How many times has a game not lived up to the hype or had surprises that would have disgusted you had you found them out yourself? By waiting you can stop to see what comes of it and just steer around it if necessary. This is also why I think preordering games is stupid. Especially digital ones.

So sit tight because good things are coming!

 

[playbignbox]

I agree, but sometimes it's cool to play at launch... when you're looking forward to a game you really like, when it's competitive or when it's something with a lot of secrets and the community discovers them together and helps each other.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Everyone knows this, but that still doesnt change the fact that a lot of gamers want to play the game early, for spoiler reasons or in case of early access to help developers make a better game in the end or simply because they want to be the first, life is short, etc.

 

[adamsapple]

 

[M.W.]

Nah, I play everything I'm interested in at launch. Like it better that way.

 

[DoubleClutch]

Everyone knows this, but that still doesnt change the fact that a lot of gamers want to play the game early, for spoiler reasons or in case of early access to help developers make a better game in the end or simply because they want to be the first, life is short, etc.

And yet so many folks get burned from Early Access.

Especially now, some games you end up as a beta tester, with the “Definitive” or “GOTY” edition being the real release.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

Only for certain games that I don't feel are worth retail price.

 

[Bridges]

Fully agree with OP but there are two reasons to buy Day 1 anyway:

1. To be part of the zeitgeist
Arguably overrated but still is fun if you engage with forums like GAF or talk with a lot of other people who play games to discuss the latest and greatest as they're releasing

2. Voting with your wallet
The much better reason in my opinion. I can get the game half off if I wait 6 months but will I ever get a sequel that way? I bought Slitterhead on Xbox for full price shortly after release despite not playing it yet because I want to support the dev and what they're going for (and for releasing on a platform that a lot of Japanese devs miss)

Otherwise yeah, kinda foolish to buy Day 1 when almost every game is broken or unfinished these days

 

[The Cockatrice]

And yet so many folks get burned from Early Access.

Especially now, some games you end up as a beta tester, with the “Definitive” or “GOTY” edition being the real release.

Also depends on the game. I wait for some and buy day one for others. Even if you would've payed me I still wouldnt have waited to play Cyberpunk 2077 day one as buggy as it was on PC. Loved it since day one, loved it 5 replays after. There are also a few games that became worse with patches, due to bad dev decisions/poor unbalancing, etc.

 

[SHA]

I used to think like that but some amazing games really deserve the support, it's not the devs fault for not making sequels.

 

[Skifi28]

Sure, but sometimes you just want to play something as soon as possible. There are also studios you can generally trust to release a complete and working product day one.

 

[Fess]

True, but unfortunately Mr.FOMO is my greatest enemy. And I hate having games spoiled just because I have access to the internet.

 

[LectureMaster]

I barely play games on day one these days but still occasionally buy on day one to support the devs I like.

 

[Danjin44]

No when I’m excited for a game I want to play it as soon as possible.

For most part I didn’t have much issue with games I bought at launch.

 

[bender]

I don't mind buying games at full price that I'm interested in as I like to support the people behind those games. I've also had this idea kicking around my circuits that if I'm not interested in a game at full price, I probably will not be interested in the game no matter how deep the discount is for it. A lot of that has to due with being spoiled by choice and a massive backlog. And that's not to say you shouldn't be thrifty as you need to do what works for you budgetarily. There are enough great games to play that it's hard to want to waste time on games that are merely ok.

 

[nikos]

Disagree.

I like being part of the hype and community on day one. That’s part of the experience for me, and sometimes even more fun than the actual game. Almost all PC games are also discounted at launch.

 

[Dacvak]

I like the social aspect of playing a new game and reading and discussing it with other people who are also playing it for the first time.

 

[Big Baller]

You think Im gonna wait with Metroid Prime 4? Ive been waiting for damn near 15 years!

 

[TintoConCasera]

Agree, but sometimes the hype is too much.

 

[Hookshot]

Depends on the game, a new Zelda or Metroid I'm there day one. Most Indies I wait for at least the first discount, others I wait for "lowest price ever" to show up on Deku deals.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Unless it's some kick-ass collector's edition or a game I've been really looking forward to, I buy games months after release.

 

[SportsFan581]

I barely play games on day one these days but still occasionally buy on day one to support the devs I like.

It's all in the marketing. Patience is a virtue.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

but you are paying 20 buck for game pass

 

[Aion002]

Sure. But...

So I rather do what I want whenever I can.

 

[adamsapple]

but you are paying 20 buck for game pass

So paying $20 for more than one game.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

So paying $20 for more than one game.

every game should be like 10 cents or something absurd like that.

 

[FinalBossWithTheMostPower]

We hear you, but it's not reality for many of us.

A better tactic is to apply this to specific annualized game franchies and games unlikely to sell well.

If ever inclined to ever purchase a Ubisoft game, this is the way.

 

[cormack12]

I did more of this in 2024 and it deffo helps for sure. Maybe it's time pubs make preorders £10 cheaper.

You should only get FOMO for online games that have a treadmill or chase mechanic.

Plus I have started using wishlists on psn etc a lot more for sales

 

[cormack12]

every game should be like 10 cents or something absurd like that.

Kinell, calm down Mr Burns. We don't all own a PowerPlant

 

[Sybrix]

I'm patient for most games now, probably comes with age.

The only games to not be patient for is a Rockstar game.

 

[nkarafo]

I never buy a game until at least after half a year.

I did a mistake and played Silent Hill 2 Remake after patch 1.6. I should have waited more because even 1.6 runs terribly.

I'm playing Callisto Protocol now. I don't think there will be any more patches for this in the future.

 

[Garibaldi]

Could get killed walking out my front door tomorrow.

 

[semiconscious]

rare is the new release that i feel that i have to play right away. which's just as well considering day 1 prices...

 

[Jaybe]

With console I was more inclined to buy physical day one or early in and then sell it after a playthrough. There was a retailer that would give literally points that were basically like credit back, which meant after selling the copy on kijiji it might have costed me like $10 to $15 especially with Nintendo games that hold their value. Now with buying digital, I tend to wait for them to be $20 or less before buying since resale isn’t an option.

 

[Aesius]

Agreed, OP.

The only exception for me in recent years is Elden Ring. Part of its magic was discovering the world alongside everyone else.

I've never understood people's insatiable urge to constantly buy new releases. Got a friend who does that and he finishes maybe 5% of them. He'll buy brand new games at release and play for 4-5 hours. Get bored and quit. Rinse and repeat. Just a crazy way to burn through disposable income.

It's literally the "Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next product" meme in action.

 

[Puscifer]

You say that but I wouldn't experience the premium slav jank of STALKER 2


Because when the quest giver doesn't show up for 5 quick loads just hits right

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Preach brother! I used to buy most of my games day one, but some of them get shuffled to the backlog, and by the time I'd play them, they're on sale for half price. That's just throwing money down the toilet.

 

[Fbh]

The only reason to buy games at or near launch these days is if you want to show support to a specific dev, franchise or particular type of game. If you don't support the types of games you like then don't come whining when devs/publishers stop making them.

Aside from that though, yeah, it's best to wait 6+ months. Not only will you get the game for cheaper but it's going to have gone through multiple updates that usually fix or at least diminish some of the more obvious issues. These days when you buy a game day 1 you are basically paying a premium to play the game at its worst state.

 

[Soodanim]

I've naturally fallen into this. On the rare occasion I get something on day 1, but as standard practice I just get through stuff as I get through it, then pick stuff up in sales as and when I feel like it.

 

[Wolzard]

Even better on PC, which has infinite backwards compatibility. Plus, it saves you the pain of every Nvidia GPU launch.

 

[LectureMaster]

There isn't really a universal "best way" for everyone. And the strategy depends on individual games.

For STALKER 2 you are absolutely right, but there is no way people would be "patiently" put off GTA 6 on launch day.

 

[NeonDelta]

This is definitely the way. Think I’ve only paid more than £40 on 3 games in 18 months (astrobot, starfield and spider-man 2)

Theres also been multiple games I would have usually got at launch based on hype that I’m no longer even interested in.

 

[E-Cat]

I haven't bought new games since the Gamecube era. So I've got, what, three generations' worth of backlog to catch up on?

 

[existensmaximum]

It's fun to be part of a hype and to discuss the game when it's new. Also, you avoid spoilers.

I mean yeah you have a point but it's not always the way to go.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

I could swear I've read this exact same thread before.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

All true except for multiplayer or your most anticipated games. Elden Ring wouldn't have been the same, and I love how populated the Monster Hunter games are on release. Those are a couple series I will always be there for on day 1.

 

[mitch1971]

5 years ago was the last time I bought a game full price.

 

[FunkMiller]

Older gamers are probably better at this, as we don’t really give a shit about FOMO, because games were always single player things that we played when we got to them back in the day.

Companies easily manipulate the young ‘uns into FOMO, thus perpetuating the cycle of broken games being put out at full price.

 

[Spukc]

Not a lie the best games i i joyed where 20 or less

 

[Sanepar]

I agree, but sometimes it's cool to play at launch... when you're looking forward to a game you really like, when it's competitive or when it's something with a lot of secrets and the community discovers them together and helps each other.

A mp game I agree. If it is sp I can wait any game 1 or 2 years.

Thx god I don't suffer of fomo.