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People aren’t pre-ordering anymore

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According to Activision, pre-orders for the latest Call of Duty are down – but Activision says that’s not because people are bored of Call of Duty, just that pre-orders are down for the industry as a whole.

“It’s important to just sort of reset expectations as it relates to pre-orders overall,” Activision CEO Hirschberg said during a conference call.

“You guys [investors and analysts] can see the same thing we see industry-wide, that there’s been sort of a secular downturn as it relates to pre-orders.

“We think that’s happening due to a number of factors, things like increased digital consumption, particularly on the next-gen consoles, titles being widely available on day one and the decline overall for demand on previous-gen consoles.”

Despite the warning to investors, Activision doesn’t think there’s anything to worry about, and that Destiny is on track to be the largest new IP in the industry. On top of that, Activision says that pre-order numbers are just one of the metrics the company uses to track the sales potential its games have.

“We also look at our quantitative studies surrounding things like purchase intent and awareness and we’re seeing strength in those areas as well.”

According to those measurements, Destiny is at an  “all-time high and climbing” when compared to other impending, fresh IP.

“Purchase intent is similarly at an all-time high and rising when compared to any other new IP, and we had 4.6 million players in the beta with almost universally positive sentiment,” he added.

“Overall, we’re really pleased with the performance of the Destiny beta. We’re pleased with the broad range of metrics that we look at to gauge momentum and our chances for success.”

Despite the lower pre-order, Activision is still bullish for the Call of Duty franchise, and expects it to be the most pre-ordered game this year.

Do you pre-order games? I frankly just don’t see the point anymore. Sure, pre-ordering some fancy-schmancy collector’s edition is probably a decent idea if you’re a fan. However, it’s so seldom that there are stock constraints with games these days, which is the entire reason pre-orders were done in the first place.

Last Updated: August 6, 2014

42 Comments

  1. Macethy

    August 6, 2014 at 17:06

    Or you know…people have gotten burnt one too many times by pre-orders like Watch Dogs recently. That game is solely responsible for me cancelling all my pre-orders and waiting until after launch to buy a game.

    Reply

    • Rags

      August 6, 2014 at 17:12

      Yeah man. We all get burned at some point and thenthe industry lost a pre order customer across the spectrum. That said I will pre order all the things Mass Effect 4. :]

      Reply

  2. Macethy

    August 6, 2014 at 17:06

    Or you know…people have gotten burnt one too many times by pre-orders like Watch Dogs recently. That game is solely responsible for me cancelling all my pre-orders and waiting until after launch to buy a game.

    Reply

    • Rags

      August 6, 2014 at 17:12

      Yeah man. We all get burned at some point and thenthe industry lost a pre order customer across the spectrum. That said I will pre order all the things Mass Effect 4. :]

      Reply

  3. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    August 6, 2014 at 17:19

    excuse me? Pre-orders down due to digital consumption and availablity on day 1? Hahahahaha.

    Which marketing team is spinning this nonsense. I guarentee it’s because people are tired of games being crap at launch day.

    Also pre-order bonuses don’t remain that. They eventually become available to everyone. So take that, then throw in half finished products in to the mix and you end up with people not wanting to risk their money.

    I’m pretty sure digital distribution and availability is pretty much the smallest of the reasons why pre-orders are down

    Reply

  4. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    August 6, 2014 at 17:19

    excuse me? Pre-orders down due to digital consumption and availablity on day 1? Hahahahaha.

    Which marketing team is spinning this nonsense. I guarentee it’s because people are tired of games being crap at launch day.

    Also pre-order bonuses don’t remain that. They eventually become available to everyone. So take that, then throw in half finished products in to the mix and you end up with people not wanting to risk their money.

    I’m pretty sure digital distribution and availability is pretty much the smallest of the reasons why pre-orders are down

    Reply

  5. Viking Of Science

    August 6, 2014 at 17:31

    Pre-ordering Fringe games may still be a good idea,

    Personally, I should have Pre-ordered South Park:Stick of Truth (PC version), because at launch day, I couldn’t find a copy. I Finally got my hands on one 4 weeks after release. After contacting the distributor, I learned that the problem was with the retailers underestimating Sales. (A local Game Shop, only ordered in 78 hard copies for the entire Western Cape) Had I Pre-ordered i could’ve enjoyed the game much sooner.

    (note: I wanted a hard copy because A) it was cheaper than Digital,and B) I like gameboxes in some instances)

    Reply

  6. Viking Of Science

    August 6, 2014 at 17:31

    Pre-ordering Fringe games may still be a good idea,

    Personally, I should have Pre-ordered South Park:Stick of Truth (PC version), because at launch day, I couldn’t find a copy. I Finally got my hands on one 4 weeks after release. After contacting the distributor, I learned that the problem was with the retailers underestimating Sales. (A local Game Shop, only ordered in 78 hard copies for the entire Western Cape) Had I Pre-ordered i could’ve enjoyed the game much sooner.

    (note: I wanted a hard copy because A) it was cheaper than Digital,and B) I like gameboxes in some instances)

    Reply

  7. Hammersteyn

    August 6, 2014 at 17:51

    I preorder sometimes so that when I drive to BT Games I am assured they have a copy waiting for me. Plus I get more for my trade-ins when I do this.
    * They can keep the shitty bonuses by the way.

    Reply

    • Blah BLah

      August 7, 2014 at 08:53

      Hope you pre-ordered Destiny as day 1 my Sparrow will outrun yours hahaha.

      Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    August 6, 2014 at 17:51

    I preorder sometimes so that when I drive to BT Games I am assured they have a copy waiting for me. Plus I get more for my trade-ins when I do this.
    * The can keep the shitty bonuses by the way.

    Reply

    • Blah BLah

      August 7, 2014 at 08:53

      Hope you pre-ordered Destiny as day 1 my Sparrow will outrun yours hahaha.

      Reply

  9. Michelle

    August 6, 2014 at 18:09

    Pre-ordering gets you some cheap @$$ camo for you gun or outfit,so not worth it.They should give alot more to entice gamers.

    Reply

  10. Michelle

    August 6, 2014 at 18:09

    Pre-ordering gets you some cheap @$$ camo for you gun or outfit,so not worth it.They should give alot more to entice gamers.

    Reply

  11. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    August 6, 2014 at 18:22

    I’ve only preordered one game this year, and that’s destiny.

    Reply

    • Blah BLah

      August 7, 2014 at 08:52

      Pre-ordered the limited edition has next 2 content drops included. Good Value.

      Reply

  12. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    August 6, 2014 at 18:22

    I’ve only preordered one game this year, and that’s destiny.

    Reply

    • Blah BLah

      August 7, 2014 at 08:52

      Pre-ordered the limited edition has next 2 content drops included. Good Value.

      Reply

  13. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 6, 2014 at 19:07

    “secular downturn”? I assume he meant cyclical, although secular works too because when it comes to publisher promises, WE DON’T BELIEVE IN YOU.

    Reply

  14. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 6, 2014 at 19:07

    “secular downturn”? I assume he meant cyclical, although secular works too because when it comes to publisher promises, WE DON’T BELIEVE IN YOU.

    Reply

  15. Deano

    August 6, 2014 at 21:03

    I very rarely pre-order games nowadays, there just isn’t really much point.

    Reply

  16. Deano

    August 6, 2014 at 21:03

    I very rarely pre-order games nowadays, there just isn’t really much point.

    Reply

  17. Ryanza

    August 6, 2014 at 22:32

    Pre-order all your games. That way the publishes can know that will be support for a game and can let the developers start working on the sequel. If you don’t pre-order all games and buy every game on launch day, without knowing if the game will be any good, will just leave good games being lost as classic games with a cult following that doesn’t get supported anymore.

    If people never pre-ordered Call of Duty 1, we would never have had the amazing Call of Duty games we get every year. Call of Duty makes so much money every year and people love playing it and love buying and supporting the developers, because Call of Duty is the best game made every year it gets released. Other games even try to be Call of Duty.

    So get your pre-orders in for Call of Duty and don’t pre-order at retail. Why wait when you can play at midnight without leaving the house. You never need to leave the house again.

    Before I get trolled. Let me troll myself. Ryanza what is your stance on DRM.

    Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      August 7, 2014 at 08:26

      Change your name to RyanZA180

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        August 7, 2014 at 08:29

        What’s your stance on Steam?

        Reply

        • Praise Lord GabeN

          August 7, 2014 at 08:33

          It adds value to my games

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            August 7, 2014 at 09:09

            oh it only works when i’m asked what’s my stance. So what’s my stance.

  18. Ryanza

    August 6, 2014 at 22:32

    Pre-order all your games. That way the publishes can know that will be support for a game and can let the developers start working on the sequel. If you don’t pre-order all games and buy every game on launch day, without knowing if the game will be any good, will just leave good games being lost as classic games with a cult following that doesn’t get supported anymore.

    If people never pre-ordered Call of Duty 1, we would never have had the amazing Call of Duty games we get every year. Call of Duty makes so much money every year and people love playing it and love buying and supporting the developers, because Call of Duty is the best game made every year it gets released. Other games even try to be Call of Duty.

    So get your pre-orders in for Call of Duty and don’t pre-order at retail. Why wait when you can play at midnight without leaving the house. You never need to leave the house again.

    Before I get trolled. Let me troll myself. Ryanza what is your stance on DRM.

    Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      August 7, 2014 at 08:26

      Change your name to RyanZA180

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        August 7, 2014 at 08:29

        What’s your stance on Steam?

        Reply

        • Praise Lord GabeN

          August 7, 2014 at 08:33

          It adds value to my games

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            August 7, 2014 at 09:09

            oh it only works when i’m asked what’s my stance. So what’s my stance.

  19. James Blacksmith

    August 6, 2014 at 23:06

    I’ve never understood pre-ordering. You pay money up front, in some cases a year, all so that you can get something small extra?

    This is just a way for companies to make money up front. For what?

    Reply

  20. James Blacksmith

    August 6, 2014 at 23:06

    I’ve never understood pre-ordering. You pay money up front, in some cases a year, all so that you can get something small extra?

    This is just a way for companies to make money up front. For what?

    Reply

  21. Joe Black

    August 7, 2014 at 00:49

    Get a damned clue… Currently the pre-order fad is setting people up with massive expectations and leaving them high and dry. To be honest most things you can pre-order never even gets finished to be an actual complete game by any measure of what was promised. Nothing but: “We’ll finish it I swear on me mum!”

    In actual fact the whole thing has led me to be rather more conservative about what I pay good money for – As in… If my friends play it for a month and they are still impressed then I’ll give it a go. Of course most so-called AAA titles hardly have 20 hours gameplay in them these days unless you count possible online, open world or arena play. Which except for some notable indie achievements is rarely anything but a re-hash of the same old themes.

    Basically I feel I have been an idiot to pre-order anything in the past – I mean it’s unfinished junk or at best does not even exist yet, which spares you the agonising and game ruining hours of tinkering with a beta. And I most likely not pre-order anything again.

    Reply

  22. Joe Black

    August 7, 2014 at 00:49

    Get a damned clue… Currently the pre-order fad is setting people up with massive expectations and leaving them high and dry. To be honest most things you can pre-order never even gets finished to be an actual complete game by any measure of what was promised. Nothing but: “We’ll finish it I swear on me mum!”

    In actual fact the whole thing has led me to be rather more conservative about what I pay good money for – As in… If my friends play it for a month and they are still impressed then I’ll give it a go. Of course most so-called AAA titles hardly have 20 hours gameplay in them these days unless you count possible online, open world or arena play. Which except for some notable indie achievements is rarely anything but a re-hash of the same old themes.

    Basically I feel I have been an idiot to pre-order anything in the past – I mean it’s unfinished junk or at best does not even exist yet, which spares you the agonising and game ruining hours of tinkering with a beta. And I most likely not pre-order anything again.

    Reply

  23. Joe Black

    August 7, 2014 at 00:51

    Betas are like people walking around with their guts hanging out.

    Reply

  24. Joe Black

    August 7, 2014 at 00:51

    Betas are like people walking around with their guts hanging out.

    Reply

  25. Morne Nell

    August 7, 2014 at 07:39

    I pre-order on Console (Because I know the thing actually work) not for the extras but for convenience, BT games deliver on launch day without me having to leave my office.
    I will however never pre-order for PC as the games is almost always broken, Sim city, battlefield watchdogs to name but a few.

    Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      August 7, 2014 at 08:25

      Yup, Battlefield and Watch_Dogs were perfect day 1 on console…

      Reply

  26. Morne Nell

    August 7, 2014 at 07:39

    I pre-order on Console (Because I know the thing actually work) not for the extras but for convenience, BT games deliver on launch day without me having to leave my office.
    I will however never pre-order for PC as the games is almost always broken, Sim city, battlefield watchdogs to name but a few.

    Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      August 7, 2014 at 08:25

      Yup, Battlefield and Watch_Dogs were perfect day 1 on console…

      Reply

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