The games unlock consistently. It’s just a matter of how that translates to your specific time zone.
For me (US, east coast), first-party titles unlock at midnight, while the majority of third-party titles unlock at noon on the launch date. I say “majority” because, on rare occasions, a third-party game will unlock at midnight.
It’s always one of these two times, to the minute. The games -are- unlocking on-time.
@Buizel wasn't the case here on two occasions. Both Rogue Sky and Streetfighter 30th Anniversary were not playable until into day two of when it actually released in stores.
@Yosheel in that case, the entire preorder system needs work in some sections of the world. If I can get a physical copy on the day it is meant to release for a much cheaper price point, just "buying the game" isn't really a benefit at all. You are paying a premium for a product you can't play when everyone else who goes to a store can.
@Ryzaerian if the system works for you, it doesn't automatically mean everything is butter for the rest of us as you can see from some other people's experiences. I'm in Australia and two for two, I've waited a day late till the system finally let me in and unlocked the games.
It's the whole point of this post. Pre-orders need to unlock at the right time per timezone, not whenever its midnight in the east coast of the US for everyone else.
What Yosheel said, I mean I just wanted to ensure. It'll be silly of me to say that there's indeed something wrong and suddenly your account is US' account :V
I'm in Aus too (AEDT - Sydney to the rest of you) and it's a bit weird how they do it over here as some seem to launch as advertised (correct date as far as we're concerned) whereas others seem to use the US date/timezones so there's certainly some inconsistency. I personally don't find it a huge hassle but it can be a little bit of a lottery as to the exact 'when' a game shows up; sipping from the half-full glass though it's still infinitely better than relying on AusPost or StarTrack so there's that at least?
@BrainOfGrimlock I feel personally; pre-ordering a game via Switch's eShop should come with the certainty a game you want like crazy will drop digitally when the actual physical game releases in your area.Ie. the stroke of midnight on release day. Otherwise really.. what's the point? You’ve payed top dollar for absolutely no privilege.
Signed up to this forum just to respond to this thread. @Jawessome is right - the eShop is completely screwed for Australians. Preordered Diablo 3 so that I could have it digitally without needing a cart only to find out that it will unlock at 11pm AEDT on 2/11.
Releasing a game digitally 23 hours after it's been available physically is the most stupid preorder business practice I've ever heard of. That and it's around $25AUD more expensive digitally than it is physically. Will be getting a refund on digital and picking up a physical instead.
I'm in Aus too (AEDT - Sydney to the rest of you) and it's a bit weird how they do it over here as some seem to launch as advertised (correct date as far as we're concerned) whereas others seem to use the US date/timezones so there's certainly some inconsistency. I personally don't find it a huge hassle but it can be a little bit of a lottery as to the exact 'when' a game shows up; sipping from the half-full glass though it's still infinitely better than relying on AusPost or StarTrack so there's that at least?
Yeah ok, hands up; I'd never really been affected/noticed how bad it was/is - at least in Aus - until now with D3. I thought - and what some of you fine people said earlier in the thread supports this - is that games launch at one of two times during day of release? Turns out that no, it's more to do with individual location/choice/decision of the publisher of each game (so each one is different), yet they deign not to share that exact information on the eShop itself, stating just the date.
We had some games launch overnight, yet D3 sits locked with no countdown timer/link to a webpage - just a redirect to the eShop page which tells me it's available on 2nd Nov. It is pretty silly.
Completely vindicated @Jawessome, so you have my apologies as a fellow suffering aussie-dweller for not noticing/supporting you sooner. Although I still maintain that it's better than waiting for AusPost
No apologies needed mate. All I want to bring attention to is fairness to the consumer in this instance.
I really think this sort of practice needs to be brought to the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I really don't think it's legal for any business operating under Australian consumer law to be able to provide what is essentially a false release date for pre-order titles on the proviso of taking your money based on said promised release date.
If the store says a date, they should really be honoring that date. In the age of digital time zones, there's really no excuse. If brick and mortar stores can hold midnight releases for anticipated titles, I don't see any real hurdles to doing so digitally. It's plain lazy / deceitful on Nintendo of Australia's part.
I'm not sure I buy the factor of the publisher having control over the release date. Nintendo would hold the keys as they operate the shop front. Or else why post a release date in that region?
I've sent a query off to the ACCC and will keep everyone updated on how this goes.
100% Agree here. Nintendos Preorder is trash, and not comparable to other platforms. Preordered My Hero Academia and had to wait 1 hour after midnight till it unlocked. But thats not the reason i just made this profile and replied to this article. I also preordered Everspace and guess what im still waiting eventho its currently 3 pm in germany. Why would you do that nintendo, just why? I knew that there must be a reason same with mha and im relieved to see your post @Jawessome. There is absolutely no reason anymore to buy anthing digitally. If you get the physical you can at least sell it or trade, gift or whatever but if you buy it digitally youre just stuck with it, wasting your space and time now. But tbh noone can understand this first world problem pain if you didn't wait for a game for ages and expected it to be playable at 1 am. Not that i was waiting for everspace for a long time... But i like space.. and i would like it even more now.
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Topic: Nintendo's Pre-Order System is Broken
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