Preloading

[Citizen Cook]

So I tried preloading one or two games on Steam but when the game releases I can’t play it right away. The game goes through verification process that takes an inordinate amount of time. It’s actually quicker for me to just download the game on release day. What gives?

[SLG]

What do you mean by preloading?

[Cathulhu]

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/496880503067929641/#c3464976518709485285

[Ogami]

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by SLGray:

What do you mean by preloading?

Originally posted by SLGray:

What do you mean by preloading?

Steam allows users to preload games that haven’t been released yet. I think this is supposed to help users with slow internet connections and ease congestion on the servers when a big release drops.

I’ve bought Spiderman and have the option to preload it.

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

I don’t know why my games take so long than. I’m using an SSD. Also, why not allow users to just download the games ahead of release then and simply unlock them later?

[Cathulhu]

Possibly some software on your computer interfering with Steam processing the data in a timely manner.

Pre-loads are up to the publisher as there are certain disadvantages with that. Like not being able to update the files after uploading, so any changes after that would migrate into a day one patch.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

I don’t know why my games take so long than. I’m using an SSD. Also, why not allow users to just download the games ahead of release then and simply unlock them later?

It's to reduce piracy, you download MOST of the game minus a few critical files. Once the games are installed it can be possible to play them without steam even running, so it help prevents piracy

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I don’t know why my games take so long than. I’m using an SSD. Also, why not allow users to just download the games ahead of release then and simply unlock them later?

It's to reduce piracy, you download MOST of the game minus a few critical files. Once the games are installed it can be possible to play them without steam even running, so it help prevents piracy

But it SHOULD be faster than downloading upon the day of release?

[KalGimpa]

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

Originally posted by Ogami:

It does not go through verification, it goes through installing. Preloading downloads the installation files, the game still needs to install after release.
That can take a while, especially if you are not on a SSD/NVMe.
On a SSD it takes rarely more then a few minutes even for big games.

I don’t know why my games take so long than. I’m using an SSD. Also, why not allow users to just download the games ahead of release then and simply unlock them later?

because unscrupulous people will attempt to open and play em and distribute them illegally.

the ones that i have preloaded came encrypted and day of had to be unpacked and installed

[wuddih]

preloading is also rarely ever used on Steam.
that would require the product available for pre-purchase and unless you are a big publisher, the partner manager will decline that request and tell you to release normally.

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by wuddih:

preloading is also rarely ever used on Steam.
that would require the product available for pre-purchase and unless you are a big publisher, the partner manager will decline that request and tell you to release normally.

I’m doing it for Spiderman. DF says it’s coming in hot though with Sony sending them daily bug fixes making their review process a nightmare.