Question, what is "Pre-loading"?

[oshmoo]

I'm new to pre-ordering stuff, so I'm curious.

[➡️ .]

It let's you download the full game if the size of it is too big to download on the day of it's release, usually 2-3 days before the release.

[Micket]

Basically you get to download/install the game before it's release.

[Tagger]

Pre-Loading is basically just downloading the install before the release date.
It's not the same content you get, when you download something after it has been release. The end-result is the same though.

Pre-Loaded data needs to be unpacked/installed on the time the game gets release (a few files gets downloaded, which removes the "encryption" added by Steam). This is all done by Steam - you don't need to do a thing.

To sum it up:
Pre-Loaded data is "basically" like an image of a disc.
Pre-Loaded data gets removed when the unpacking/install is done.

...so be sure to have a good amount of space free when Pre-Loaded, as it takes 1.5-2x the size of the installed game (until unpacked/installed).

[oshmoo]

Okay, thanks. I get it.

[Jemne Perlivá]

Here in New Zealand pre-loading is when you drink 4 or 5 beers at home before going to the pub because alcohol is so expensive in bars now.