How Do Pre-Orders Work on Steam

[Sassy3K]

I have never pre-ordered a game on Steam and I don't know if pre-ordering a game on Steam is similar to pre-ordering a game on another platform, such as Xbox, where you'll be charged 10 days before the release date. I try to look at multiple support articles, regarding pre-orders and found nothing. Does pre-ordering a game work the same way as just buying the game, where you'll be charged as soon as you complete the purchase or is there something else I'm missing or forgot to add? Thanks in advance!

[Astaroth]

It works as buying a game, you'll be charged right away

[Cathulhu]

There are no pre-orders on Steam. There are pre-purchases.
You are charged as soon as you order the game.
You can request a refund at any given time before the release.
Also, you can request a refund up to 14 days after the release if the game was played less than two hours.

[JAKETHESNAKE]

But where would the game be after pre purchasing it

[feytharn]

Originally posted by JAKETHEDOG22:

But where would the game be after pre purchasing it

In your library, but you won't be able to download it before release (or before a preload becomes available if the developers chose that).

[JAKETHESNAKE]

Originally posted by feytharn:

Originally posted by JAKETHEDOG22:

But where would the game be after pre purchasing it

In your library, but you won't be able to download it before release (or before a preload becomes available if the developers chose that).

thank you I always thought thats what happend thank you for confirming it

[Mr.Hayden]

But what about bundles? Lets say that one thing in the bundle is not out yet, would you get all the other stuff in the bundle that's already out or do you have to wait until it all comes out to get it all?

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Tabswarm:

But what about bundles? Lets say that one thing in the bundle is not out yet, would you get all the other stuff in the bundle that's already out or do you have to wait until it all comes out to get it all?

Its a full purchase, so all content that is already released will be available at once for download/play.
Only unreleased stuff in the bundle will only be available from the release day forward.

Good example is the current "Resident Evil 8 Bundle" on the store that includes the prepurchase of RE 8 but also RE 7 and all its DLC.
If you buy the preorder bundle you get access to RE 7 and the DLC at once and will get access to RE8 on release day.
Just BE AWARE, if you buy a bundle ALL content in it counts for the refund policy.
So you cant play RE 7 for 10 hours and then when RE 8 comes out decides you dont like it and want to refund is.
That is the risk with bundle purchases, all included items count cumulative for the refund limit, so if you pass the limit with any included items alone or through combination then the whole bundle can no longer be refunded.

[Mr.Hayden]

Thanks

[Nashine]

Well if this is true that it charges you as soon as you pay for it that's extremely stupid and it should work like it does on other consoles. Personally that literally defeats the whole redeemable factor of pre-purchasing anything. I know that I won't have the money now but by the time it releases I will and I just wanted to charge my card before release date and download it before release date so stupid that it works the the way it does on steam

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Nashine:

Well if this is true that it charges you as soon as you pay for it that's extremely stupid and it should work like it does on other consoles. Personally that literally defeats the whole redeemable factor of pre-purchasing anything. I know that I won't have the money now but by the time it releases I will and I just wanted to charge my card before release date and download it before release date so stupid that it works the the way it does on steam

What you described is a layaway system.

Get a PayPal account and use their system "Pay in 4."

[Zefar]

Originally posted by Nashine:

Well if this is true that it charges you as soon as you pay for it that's extremely stupid and it should work like it does on other consoles. Personally that literally defeats the whole redeemable factor of pre-purchasing anything. I know that I won't have the money now but by the time it releases I will and I just wanted to charge my card before release date and download it before release date so stupid that it works the the way it does on steam

This is how it works every single industry when you pre purchase something. Literally the most normal thing in business.


There is one exception on Steam and it's the SteamDeck and there have been people complaining about Steam not telling them they didn't have enough money when it was close to launch. Because Steam would cancel their order because there wasn't enough money.

[Lithurge]

Originally posted by Nashine:

Well if this is true that it charges you as soon as you pay for it that's extremely stupid and it should work like it does on other consoles. Personally that literally defeats the whole redeemable factor of pre-purchasing anything. I know that I won't have the money now but by the time it releases I will and I just wanted to charge my card before release date and download it before release date so stupid that it works the the way it does on steam

Or the reverse can be true, people who know they have the money now, but may not when the game is released can know they've bought and paid for the game.

That's the thing with the world you sometimes have to sit back and take a different view, even when it doesn't match your own.

[MirageClem]

How do i pre purchase something in the first place because I want to pre purchase Spider Man 2 but i'm seeing no pre-purchase options, is there something I need to do or am i just dumb?

[RPG Gamer Man]

Originally posted by MirageClem:

How do i pre purchase something in the first place because I want to pre purchase Spider Man 2 but i'm seeing no pre-purchase options, is there something I need to do or am i just dumb?

That game currently does not have a "PRE-PURCHASE" option. You will have to wait closer to the time it released to see if they put one on the store page.

[Norma]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.