While a lot of the gaming world was preoccupied with yesterday’s Uncharted 4 release date announcement, and all the hoopla surrounding Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, some might have not seen Square Enix’s video announcing the release date and pre-order bonuses fans can “earn” in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
In case you’re not familiar with it, Square Enix has implemented “tier” bonuses that are directly affected by how many people pre-order Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. You can check out the video below to see what bonuses people can earn (spoiler: last tier is that the game will be available four days earlier than its release date, but only attainable if an unspecified number of pre-order numbers have been met).
At the time of this writing, the video has only 311 thumbs up votes with over 23,000 down votes (or dislikes) and counting. Clearly, it seems gamers do not appreciate that Square Enix wants people to “augment” their pre-orders this way.
This is where PlayStation LifeStyle’s latest Now Loading feature comes in as the PSLS staff weighs in on what they think of this marketing move and you might (or might not) be surprised at the responses.
What do you think of this whole “augment” your pre-order thing for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided? What do you think of Square Enix choosing to have pre-orders dictate if their game should come out a few days earlier or not? Let us know what you think and more in the comments below.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be out on February 23, 2016 for the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Now Loading is a recurring staff-driven feature where PlayStation LifeStyle discusses anything video game-related under the sun (yes, even non-Sony platforms).
Essential Reading:
- Now Loading…Until Dawn Reviews and Reception
- Top 10 Metal Gear Solid Boss Fights
- Everything Wrong With Until Dawn
Now Loading...Deus Ex!
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Now Loading…Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Pre-Order “Bonuses” Issue and What to Make of It
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Alex Co
I get what Square Enix is trying to do, but at the same time, I understand why people are mad at this. I mean, pre-order incentives and stuff are already getting out of hand, and this one -- if it works -- might just open up a whole new can of worms.
Do I support this? Nah, not one bit. Giving more pre-order bonuses is a good idea, but releasing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided earlier than usual IF people pre-order enough is just...I dunno, stupid? Just get the game out earlier if that's the case and don't act like you're doing gamers a favor, yeah?
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Heath Hindman
I love Square Enix's tier-based pre-orders with this game, because it means they can make more money while none of it is my money, because I don't pre-order. Good stuff!
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Cameron Teague
I will say that I don't see the reason for the huge uproar. If you want to get the perk of playing the game 4 days early, then convince all your friends to pre-order. If you don't care about that, then just wait until the game launches and purchase it. I understand that a lot of people aren't all that happy with Square Enix in general lately, but I see no real fault in this tactic.
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Tyler Treese
It seems like every three months the online community is set ablaze with people vowing to never pre-order games again. They even draft up petitions to feel like they are making a difference! However, this anger quickly subsides as they continue to pre-order games. This isn't the first time that fans vow to stop pre-ordering, and it won't be the last. Because how else will they get some meaningless side-quest in a game?
As far as Deus Ex's strategy is concerned, I find it to be pure genius. If this is what Square Enix has to do for the series to gain more first week sales than so be it. Deus Ex is one of the most critically acclaimed series of all time, and deserves to be played by as many people as possible. -
Zarmena Khan
I should just copy and paste Heath's reply. I don't pre-order so I don't understand the fuss. People need to vote with their wallets and be done with it. A certain group within the gaming community doesn't understand that actions speak louder than angry tweets. And if developers are successful in implementing these strategies then it means that a significant proportion of people are fine with them. In that case, the only advice I have is to shut up.
By the way, the game releasing four days early means nothing to me. -
Ben Tarrant
Cam has it on point there. If you care that much pay the extra. If you don't.. Then don't. It's an incentive thing for big fans, not a necessity?
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Tyler Colp
I usually leave the pre-ordering to people willing to take that chance, since, as history as shown, it's not always a safe purchase. The problem here is that Square Enix is essentially saying it's able to release the game four days early, but locking it behind a pre-order campaign. I think it's gross that they're asking people to earn something like that. It says a lot about the really troubling relationship game companies and game players have. It's the manipulative pre-order culture pushed a little further. I understand why it exists, but I just want to play the game.
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Chandler Wood
Incentives are a part of business. On the one side, we can call Square greedy and terrible people. On the other we can understand that games are on no way the only businesses that do this. In fact, if not enough people order, we're not out anything. Release goes according to plan and that's that. It's like a sales incentive. Do well, get a bonus. Don't, and maintain the status quo. Still don't want to pre-order games? Just don't then.
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Mack Ashworth
While I think the pre-order incentives for Mankind Divided are nothing unusual, especially if you look at the PC side of things, I can understand why people are annoyed. The trailer Square Enix released alongside the launch date announcement was fascinating to me. Here is a company that has the audacity to present pre-orders as a privilege that we gamers should be grateful for. We must look like complete idiots to them, and we have created that image through our blind support for games prior to their release.No, gamers shouldn't pre-order this game, and yet most of us will anyway.
