pre-ordering

AppWizard
April 5, 2026
Jess Kinghorn, a hardware writer, has been exploring indie games like Sato Killing Time Chat.exe and D14L-ogue. She pre-ordered her PlayStation 5 in 2020 for £450, which has since increased to £570/€650 due to a memory supply crisis. Sony may delay the PS6's release until 2028 or 2029. Jess is reevaluating the costs of console gaming, noting that major game releases add to the financial burden. She feels disconnected from PlayStation-exclusive titles due to limited availability on PC and is fatigued by big-budget games. Jess prefers smaller games like Home Safety Hotline, Perfect Tides, and Ambrosia Sky: Act One, which are more affordable. While she enjoys some PS5 titles, she is cautious about future console investments. In contrast, she finds the anticipated Switch 2 appealing at £396, despite hardware issues like Joy-Con stick drift.
AppWizard
March 29, 2026
This summer, the fighting game community will see the release of "Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game" on July 2, priced at .99. The game features 12 characters from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra," with over 900 hand-drawn frames for each character. It will include casual and ranked matches, rollback netcode, and be available on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The game also offers a single-player story mode and a gallery mode. Pre-orders start at .99, with a deluxe edition available for .99 that includes additional content. Pre-order bonuses include a Samurai skin for Appa and voting privileges for future characters.
AppWizard
February 19, 2026
Dean Hall, the creator of DayZ, addressed the stigma around video game release delays during an AMA on Reddit. His project, Icarus, initially launched on PC in 2021, had its console release date pushed from February 26 to March 26 to allow for further refinement. Hall discussed four significant delays from his studio, RocketWerkz: the Dangerous Horizons DLC for Icarus, Stationeers in Early Access for a decade, Kitten Space Agency's public build delay, and the Icarus console version. He emphasized the importance of player support for delays, arguing that developers face pressure to meet deadlines, which can lead to a detrimental ‘crunch culture.’ Hall noted that most delays stem from a failure to achieve desired quality, often due to financial constraints. He highlighted the rigorous quality assessment process before a launch and stressed the need for transparency in communicating the reasons for delays. Icarus is available for pre-order on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and Hall advised against pre-ordering games while acknowledging its commercial necessity.
AppWizard
November 29, 2025
Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired MMO, began development in 2015 with Riot Games as an early investor and later acquired Hypixel Studios. The game was canceled in June 2025, leading to the disbandment of Hypixel Studios. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original creator, has repurchased the rights from Riot and plans to revive development, with an early access release date set for January 13, 2026. The team has rehired over 40 members, bringing the total workforce to 50. Collins-Laflamme has advised potential players to manage their expectations regarding the game's unfinished state during early access. The team is returning to the original game version, merging over 300 GitHub branches into a single working branch to prepare for the launch. Hytale and Hypixel Studios are now independent again, with a commitment to realizing the original vision from the 2018 trailer.
AppWizard
November 28, 2025
Hytale has undergone a challenging seven-year development period and faced cancellation by Riot Games, but the original owner has reclaimed the project to pursue its original vision. Developer Hypixel has released new gameplay footage and announced an early access release date of January 13, 2026. However, they have cautioned players to manage their expectations, describing the footage as "raw and broken" and stating that the game is not yet in a good state. CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme advised against pre-ordering or participating in early access for those who might feel uncomfortable, while content lead Polina Logado reminded followers that it is an alpha release. Hytale aims to be an ambitious reinterpretation of the Minecraft formula despite its challenges.
AppWizard
October 24, 2025
The alpha test for Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy is set to launch on December 16, with access requiring a pre-order of either the Developer's Digital Pack for approximately £59 or the Collector's Edition for around £217. This pricing strategy has raised concerns among players, particularly due to past experiences with pre-ordering and the potential for the game to require significant post-launch fixes. Many in the gaming community feel that limiting alpha test access to those willing to pay a premium is misaligned with their sentiments, especially given the trend of disappointment associated with pre-orders.
AppWizard
October 9, 2025
Battlefield 6 is set to launch on October 10. There will be no early access, even for the deluxe edition. Pre-ordering the game grants the Tombstone Pack, which includes an exclusive skin. Players can preload Battlefield 6 now, and it requires approximately 80 GB of available storage space.
AppWizard
September 27, 2025
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is available for pre-order, with significant demand leading to limited stock at various retailers. Pre-orders started on September 25, with the ROG Xbox Ally priced at 9.99 and the ROG Xbox Ally X at 9.99. The official release is set for October 16. Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are offering pre-orders, but stock shortages are reported, particularly in the UK where the Xbox Ally X is out of stock. Some retailers have implemented measures like sign-in requirements and CAPTCHA due to high consumer interest. The design features Xbox branding and a controller-style grip, making it appealing to gamers.
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