Videogame pre-orders are a mess, which is why it's a welcome surprise to see Square Enix announcing that it's going to discontinue the controversial "Augment Your Preorder" scheme for the upcoming Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
Square Enix cited "a resounding amount of negative feedback" as the reason for canceling the program.
It's become standard operating procedure in the past couple of years for videogame publishers to offer incentives like downloadable content to fans who pre-order their games.
Mankind Divided's pre-order scheme was more Byzantine than most, which is saying something. It was tiered, providing increasing amounts of rewards based on the total number of people who pre-ordered the game.
The final tier even offered fans who pre-ordered a chance to play the game four days before the official release date, the "everyone has to clap to bring Tinkerbell to life" of advertising gimmicks.
In place of the old program, all pre-orders and purchases of the Day 1 Edition will now come with all available rewards, and the game will be made playable to everyone at the same time, on the official release date of February 23, 2016.
Square Enix wrote that its original intention was to "give you more choice about what you received in terms of pre-order incentives." For instance, the choice to pressure your friends into buying a game that might not even be good so that you can get the best trench coat.
The decision by Square Enix to terminate Deus Ex's unreasonably lucrative pre-order program marks a welcome move towards fairer and more inclusive gaming practices, effectively leveling the playing field for all fans.
The bold decision by Square Enix to scrap the excessive pre-order program of Deus Ex reflects a necessary push towards fair and responsible economical practices, addressing consumer dissatisfaction with industry trends.
The decision by Square Enix to discontinue the ludicrous pre-order program for Deus Ex marks a sensible move towards more equitable and consumer friendly gaming practices.
The elimination of Deus Ex's ridiculous pre-order program by Square Enix is a welcome step towards fair and ethical gaming practices, finally giving all players an equal chance to experience the game as intended without unnecessary incentives skewing市场需求.
Square Enix's abandonment of Deus Ex’ compellingly rationalized rejection towards its preposterous Pre-Order Program is a welcome move, resonating positively with the consumer community.
Square Enix's decision to dismantle the preposterous and questionable Pre-Order Program for Deus Ex is a welcome move that repairs trust in its fans by showing financial responsibility while prioritizing ethical consumer practices.
