Talking Point: Do Early Access Editions Go Too Far for Story Games Like Death Stranding 2?

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Caution: Footage from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has started circulating on the internet, prior to the game’s formal release.

Since you’re intending to play the upcoming game from Kojima Productions, it might be wise to exercise caution when using social media or streaming sites, as spoilers could potentially ruin your experience.

As someone eagerly anticipating the release of this game, I can’t help but notice that a few lucky ones have already started sharing their gameplay experiences online, either through uploaded footage or live streams on Twitch. This means that spoilers for the game’s early hours are now circulating, which could potentially ruin some of the surprises for those of us still waiting to dive in!

Although these leaks won’t matter much longer because the game is about to go public this week, it brings up an issue related to this: the question of incentives for early access pre-orders.

Just like several significant launches from recent times, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach comes out on two different release dates based on your spending level.

Most people can look forward to the sci-fi action-adventure sequel hitting stores at the end of this week, specifically on June 26th. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can get the Digital Deluxe edition and start playing the game two days earlier.

In many popular games, particularly those with high profiles, this practice is quite widespread – it’s an effective method to attract early orders for pricier editions, making them highly appealing.

Regrettably, when it comes to games like Death Stranding 2 that are primarily story-based, it can lead to quite a dilemma for those who aren’t part of the early access group.

Regardless of whether the mentioned leaks occurred or not, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll find numerous hours of unedited gameplay on YouTube and an abundance of clips on social media platforms, well ahead of the official game launch date.

As a gamer myself, I fully understand that those who share gameplay videos online have every right to do so. After all, we’ve each invested our hard-earned money to enjoy the gaming experience, and part of that enjoyment can be sharing it with others.

Essentially, this implies that anyone arriving late to the party will find themselves surrounded by two days full of spoilers, regardless of where they look.

Currently, you might notice a bit of an apparent contradiction in our actions; we’ve begun publishing videos about Death Stranding 2 on our YouTube channel, including video reviews. Yet, these posts are made under prearranged limitations with the game’s publisher that prohibit us from revealing particular scenes or information, ensuring that potential players can still enjoy an unspoiled gaming experience.

We’re discussing the influx of gameplay that will emerge from players who don’t abide by the specified rules, possibly sharing content beyond what the media can legally distribute during the early access phase.

Once more, those involved aren’t necessarily in the wrong, yet it prompts the thought: Is granting early access to certain players truly equitable towards those who opt out or cannot afford the additional cost?

Among the top-selling pre-orders on the PlayStation Store, it’s nearly always the case that special editions of games outsell their standard counterparts.

Among the various exclusive editions, some grant early access privileges; for example, you’ll find Death Stranding 2, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (also known as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater) on the list.

In simpler terms, while these instances aren’t major spoilers per se, they represent a growing trend, especially in narrative-heavy games. Titles such as Silent Hill F, The Outer Worlds 2, Hell Is Us, and others offering single-player experiences have early access features included in their premium editions.

As a gamer, I often find myself in situations where exciting games get leaked online ahead of their official release dates, leaving us with an unintentional spoiler marathon for the next couple of days. This means that before the affordable standard editions hit the market, we’re already aware of many plot twists and game secrets.

It can be inferred that since a higher number of individuals prefer the special edition over the standard version, it might indicate they appreciate the early access feature, implying that the issue isn’t significant.

However, it’s impossible to determine the exact degree of their popularity; while it’s possible that they are outperforming in sales, a substantial number of the audience will still prefer the standard version.

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2025-06-23 20:06