Games with “Early Access” Special Editions see Boosted Premium Edition Sales

It’s hard not to notice the growing trend of “Early Access Special Edition” games, which allow purchasers of premium pre-orders of games to play titles days, or sometimes weeks before the standard edition releases onto store shelves. 

Over the past two months, we have seen this happen with Battlefield V, Hitman 2, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. So far, publishers have been very satisfied with the results of this practice, finding that more gamers purchase premium editions of games at launch, securing additional revenue for the publisher of each game during its launch window. 

With the practice securing additional revenue for the companies behind modern AAA games, it’s pretty much a guarantee that this trend will become more cemented into the gaming industry moving forward, effectively killing off traditional midnight launch events at retail stores while pushing gaming further into the realms of digital downloads. 

Early Access is proving to be a popular method of enticing gamers into purchasing premium games, moving beyond the statues, toys and models that traditionally accompany special edition game releases.