Early Access

[jordwiggs]

Hi

I was just wondering what everyone thoughts are on the 'up to 5 days early access' for the premium edition.

I would pay the additional £15 for 5 days early access as it crosses with my time off, but the wording seems a little sus. Doesn't actually confirm that you will get access on 1st September and additionally, the store page has the release date as 6th Sep for all versions still (unless I'm missing something?).

Is there a page somewhere that definitively says that the release date for the premium edition is Sep 1st?

Thanks.

[Mastah]

Some version of the game have the digital code inside, like the collector.
In that case you have to wait the delivery and then the download, that for sure is going to eat in those 5 days.

[smr1957]

It has been posted right on Steam's Starfield store page (under bonuses for purchasing the Premium edition), as well as being announced by Bethesda, that people who purchase the premium edition will be able to download and play the game 5 days prior to the actual release date (hence, September 1).

From the store page:
"Premium Edition includes:

Starfield Base Game
Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)
Up to 5 days early access*
Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
* Actual play time depends on purchase date and is subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences."

[Duke of Kaos]

Originally posted by jordwiggs:

Hi

I was just wondering what everyone thoughts are on the 'up to 5 days early access' for the premium edition.

I would pay the additional £15 for 5 days early access as it crosses with my time off, but the wording seems a little sus. Doesn't actually confirm that you will get access on 1st September and additionally, the store page has the release date as 6th Sep for all versions still (unless I'm missing something?).

Is there a page somewhere that definitively says that the release date for the premium edition is Sep 1st?

Thanks.

Yes it is definitely September 1st. I paid for the basic version until I saw people talking about playing on the 1st, checked out the Premium version and bought it.

I didn't buy on Steam though but from the Xbox app as I get it on Series X and PC for that price.

I wouldn't normally do it but I'm so hyped for this game I decided it's worth it to enjoy earlier.

[Tenoshii]

Originally posted by jordwiggs:

I was just wondering what everyone thoughts are on the 'up to 5 days early access' for the premium edition.

Great way to ensure you don't get someone else's sloppy seconds and can play the moment the game comes out.

[WuffWabbit]

You'll get it sept 1st in the better editions. I think compared to a lot of incentives to pre-order, this is a fairly good compromise. People who are wary can simply wait and by the time the normal release comes, will know if it's worth buying. It also beats doing 'limited time skins' or whatever some pre-orders do. That stuff is predatory.

[AdahnGorion]

I think it is awesome, then other people can beta test the game for me before I play it.

[Ruin]

Bethesda simply can't guarantee you access on September 1st... As others have said, physical copies won't be available until official release, and Bethesda then cannot prevent delays in you getting access on the 1st with digital copies, such as your own internet problems, delays due to having to install (assuming preinstall is not available prior to the 1st on PC), or if you purchased after the 1st, etc...

[WuffWabbit]

Originally posted by Ruin:

Bethesda simply can't guarantee you access on September 1st... As others have said, physical copies won't be available until official release, and Bethesda then cannot prevent delays in you getting access on the 1st with digital copies, such as your own internet problems, delays due to having to install (assuming preinstall is not available prior to the 1st on PC), or if you purchased after the 1st, etc...

The common sense idea is that on the date of 8/1/23 the game will be released digitally to those who preorder. Generally, those getting physical editions usually get their copies (if by delivery) a day or so before this date, give or take a day after depending on where they live. We saw this with ToTK and RE4Remake. People were getting pre-order copies days before launches.

[Ruin]

Originally posted by WuffWabbit:

Originally posted by Ruin:

Bethesda simply can't guarantee you access on September 1st... As others have said, physical copies won't be available until official release, and Bethesda then cannot prevent delays in you getting access on the 1st with digital copies, such as your own internet problems, delays due to having to install (assuming preinstall is not available prior to the 1st on PC), or if you purchased after the 1st, etc...

The common sense idea is that on the date of 8/1/23 the game will be released digitally to those who preorder. Generally, those getting physical editions usually get their copies (if by delivery) a day or so before this date, give or take a day after depending on where they live. We saw this with ToTK and RE4Remake. People were getting pre-order copies days before launches.

This may be true, but still can't guarantee that delivery before the 1st, thus it might be on the 2nd, 3rd, etc, before you get your early access...

Also, if you've preordered through a store, they're not permitted to release prior to the 6th, which is what I was meaning about physical copies...

[BEEP!]

For me when I see a company launch there game a couple day's early for sone people I see it as a good sign because it shows the devs & the company are willing to risk scaring away there customers if the game is bad it's like a sign of confidence about there game now when a game is kept hidden till the very last moment that usually is a red flag for a bad game that the devs & company knows it's a bad game and there trying to hide it.

[Jacob Locke]

Heck, I'll give them another 20 bucks for an additional 20 minutes early.

Of course I'm joking but, not really.

[wtiger27]

It's not worth it for myself. Besides, BG3 will keep me very busy until Starfield releases. Maybe a while after it does.

[Riverdusk]

Originally posted by smr1957:

* Actual play time depends on purchase date and is subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences."

That pretty much covers it. If you only buy it 2 days prior to release you are only going to get 2 days early access, not the whole 5. You'd think that obvious, but nothing can be taken for granted to what people might assume. So, you get the lawyer speak. They are covering themselves. Same statement also covers in case something weird and unexpected happens.

But, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Should be pretty safe to get at least close to 5 days if you buy it soon enough to get the 5 days.

[kdodds]

Just want to point out that you're not paying extra for early access. You're pre-ordering the first DLC as well as the base game and the early access is a "thank you for your support" along with the extra skins. So, you'll get the first ($30) DLC upon release in addition to the early access.