There's usually a feeling of anticipation and excitement when a game you've had your eye on comes out, and you want to experience it as soon as you can.
However, it might be good to hold off on your purchase for a while, despite your excitement. Here are seven reasons why you shouldn't buy a game at launch.
1. Games Are Usually at Their Worst on Day-One
Because of more business-orientated goals, developers rarely have enough time to release their game in perfect condition. This means that the game you're getting at launch is likely in its worst form.
If you've bought games at launch, you've probably experienced many day-one patches, often hefty, that iron out as many bugs and performance issues as they can from your games. But, the day-one patch isn't a fix-all, and the game could still be a terrible, buggy mess---did someone say Cyberpunk 2077?
Over time, developers implement more and more patches, depending on the game. That should fix things---the keyword here being “should”. As these patches are free to download and improve the game, it makes sense that you should wait a little longer so you can experience a more polished game than at launch.
2. Games Might Lack Enough Content to Justify Full Price
Nothing's worse than spending your hard-earned money on a video game at launch to find that there's not really that much to do. Whether it's a game's uninspired gameplay loop, repetitive missions, game length, or something else, you're better off waiting for genuine reviews that explain what exactly the game offers at launch.
We've seen games lack content at launch throughout the years, with Star Wars Battlefront, Fallout 76, and No Man's Sky. And, as the price of video games is increasing, it's all the worse if this happens with a game you buy.
And, while you can have fun diving into a game without knowing the first thing about it, it's better if you do that with games that are already out instead of games at launch. They'll usually be cheaper, run better, and have more content.
3. There Could Be Locked Content on Games at Launch
Okay, so there is one thing worse than the previous point. And that's when you buy a game at launch, realize there's a lack of content, then discover that there is actually content for the game---it's just locked behind a paywall. Games like Evolve are an example of this.
We should pay developers for any extra work they do beyond their work on the base game. However, it's insulting to pay extra to get content that the standard version of the game should have launched with. It comes across as greedy and exploitative from the game makers' side.
4. You Don't Know if a Game Will Improve or Not
If a game has a rough launch, it usually goes one of two ways afterwards. Either the developers keep supporting their game till it's actually pretty good, as with No Man's Sky. Or, you'll see developers abandoning their game, leaving it a lost cause, as with Anthem.
It makes little sense (unless you really trust the developers) to buy a game at launch without knowing how it will be, or whether it will improve or not. And, even if a game does improve later down the line, you might not be able to shake the terrible first impression it left and so won't pick it up again. It's better to wait to see what path a game is on before you make your choice,
5. The Base Game and Any DLC Are at Their Most Expensive
An obvious reason, in most cases, that you shouldn't buy games at launch is because that's when they're at their most expensive.
There are a few exceptions to this: games with physical items and physical editions of games. Things such as collector's editions of games will have very limited stock, so their value could rise after launch. Discontinued games will have the same problem regarding their physical stock, and you can find that physical editions of older games can be expensive.
But, by and large, games will get cheaper the older they get, especially digital editions of games and any DLC they have via sales. You get the same content for a cheaper price if you pick it up after launch.
6. You Might Not Judge the Game Fairly
When a game launches, it's usually at its peak in terms of hype and excitement. However, this can be bad, as it could affect how you view a game.
Too much excitement or controversy at launch could result in your first play-through of a game being influenced by a wealth of differing opinions, leading you to judge the game more positively or negatively. We've seen this happen with large franchises (Assassin's Creed), insanely hyped titles (The Last of Us Part II), and titles that over-promise and under-deliver (Ubisoft games).
It's better to wait for the dust to settle and judge a game based on its merits. This should help you arrive at your own informed opinion on the matter.
7. GOTY Edition > Launch Edition
Games usually get a special release a year or so later, which is much better than the launch edition.
Usually called the “GOTY”, “Gold Edition”, “Complete Edition”, or something similar, these versions include the base game plus all of its DLC. And, as the game has been out for a while, this will be the most-updated version of the game to date. This edition should come at the same price as the game's launch version, or you could grab it on sale.
So, what you get for being patient is the best-running, most complete version of a game at the same price as when it launched. Not a bad deal, right?
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
It's in your best interests to overcome temptation and buy games weeks or months after their launch. You get a smoother game, with fewer bugs, potentially at a lower price, and with more content for you to enjoy.
Whether you're looking to buy a new game or you've been patiently waiting for a PS5 to get back in stock, your patience brings its own rewards. With it, you'll find a much more enjoyable gaming experience.