iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Buying an announced game before release means paying for a future product, not a guaranteed finished experience. Before you commit, identify exactly what is available now, separate confirmed details from plans, and check the refund terms for your storefront and region. If the remaining uncertainty or cancellation rules do not suit you, wait for launch and independent player feedback.
First, identify what you are buying
“Before release” can describe different products. The label affects whether you can play now and how much of your decision depends on future delivery.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
GameStop Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Announced game: The game may not yet be available to play or purchase. Any date, feature list, or roadmap is a statement about a future release.
- Pre-purchase: You pay for a game to be delivered later. On Steam, eligible pre-purchases of games that are not playable before release can be refunded before release; see the conditions below.
- Early Access: On Steam, this is a playable game still in development. Judge the current product, not only what the developer says it may become. Valve says customers should buy based on the current state, and cautions that developers cannot promise an exact completion date or guarantee future additions. Steamworks Early Access documentation
- Advance Access: Steam uses this for a pre-purchase edition or incentive that lets buyers play before the general release. It is not the same as Early Access, and playtime during this period counts toward Steam’s refund playtime limit. Steamworks Early Access documentation
These terms are not interchangeable: an Early Access game is playable now, while a pre-purchase is a future delivery. An early-play window can combine a pre-purchase with limited access before launch.
Assess the evidence available today
Start with the current store listing and official updates. Write down what you can verify now separately from what is planned. A trailer or gameplay clip may show a real slice of the game, but by itself does not establish how representative that slice is or whether the full game is complete.
#1 Best Overall
- Redeemable at US GameStop, EB Games, Babbage's, Electronic Boutique, EBX, Planet X, and Software Etc. stores. Also redeemable online at and GameStop.com and EBGames.com.
- Over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States.
- GameStop. Power to the Players.
- Redemption: Instore and Online
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Look for sustained gameplay footage, a demo, or a playtest, if available. Notice whether the footage demonstrates the systems you care about rather than only a brief scripted sequence.
- Check the listing for what is playable now, supported platforms, included features, and any stated limitations.
- Separate available content and confirmed details from roadmap items, planned features, and target dates. For Steam Early Access, Valve explicitly warns that planned additions may not happen and that developers cannot know exactly when a game will be finished. A roadmap communicates intent; it is not evidence of delivery.
- Consider whether you would still want the game if a promised feature were delayed, changed, or omitted. This is a way to test your own tolerance for uncertainty, not a prediction of what the developer will do.
Judge the release date without inventing certainty
Treat a release date as a plan, not a guarantee. Check whether the listing gives a specific date or a broad window, whether the date has changed, and whether recent official updates explain the schedule. Those details can inform your decision, but they do not establish that the next date will hold.
A 2022 study, An Empirical Study of Delayed Games on Steam, analyzed 23,485 Steam games to examine release-date delays. The available study summary establishes the scope and sample size, but not a delay rate or a probability for any particular game. It would be misleading to use that figure to estimate the chance that the game you are considering will be late. Study record
Rank #2
- XBOX GIFT CARD: Buy full digital game downloads, game add-ons, in-game currency, memberships, devices, apps, movies, TV shows, and more.
- DIGITAL GAMES: Choose from hundreds of games, from AAA to indie options. Start playing the moment your most anticipated game is available when you pre-order and pre-download it.
- GAME AD-ONS: Extend the experience of your favorite games with add-ons and in-game currency.
- MOVIES & TV SHOWS: Rent or buy new and popular movies and TV shows from a massive library.
- PERFECT GIFT: Great as a gift for a friend or yourself. Xbox Gift Cards are easy to use, never expire, and give the freedom to pick the gift they want. Enjoy more ways to play without a credit card attached to your Microsoft account.
Compare the purchase options
If you have more than one way to buy, compare what each option provides at the time you pay and what you give up by waiting. The answers depend on the game, edition, storefront, and region.
| Option | Playable when you pay? | What the purchase depends on | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wait for release | Not applicable; you have not bought it yet. | Less dependence on pre-release claims; you can decide using launch information and player feedback. | Whether waiting is acceptable and likely to provide useful evidence. |
| Pre-purchase | Usually not before release, unless the offer includes early access. | Future delivery and the accuracy of the current release plan and product details. | Cancellation and refund conditions for your storefront, region, and purchase. |
| Steam Early Access | Yes; the game is playable while in development. | The quality and scope of the current build, plus any future changes you hope for. | What the present build includes, its limitations, and Steam’s refund conditions. |
| Steam Advance Access | Yes, during an early-play period before general release. | The value of playing earlier and any edition extras, as well as the later release. | Whether early access is worth the price difference and how the playtime affects refund eligibility. |
Earlier access and cosmetic or bundled extras have value only if they matter to you. Valve notes that early play may be a poor fit for some games, including narrative single-player games and titles where an early competitive advantage affects other players. Steamworks Early Access documentation
Rank #3
- Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
- It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
- It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
- It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
Check the refund rules before paying
Refund rights depend on the specific store, region, product, and transaction. The rules below describe the cited Steam policy and the US PlayStation Store policy; do not assume they apply to another region or retailer. Check the current policy and your purchase-specific conditions before placing an order.
Steam
Valve’s Steam Refunds policy says eligible game purchases can be refunded when the request meets the applicable return period and the game has been played for less than two hours. For an eligible pre-purchase that cannot be played before release, you may request a refund any time before release; after release, the standard 14-day and under-two-hour conditions apply. Any pre-purchase playtime, including Advance Access, counts toward the two-hour limit. Steam’s pre-purchase refund FAQ also describes cancellation before release and the post-release conditions. These are eligibility rules, not a guarantee that every transaction qualifies.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
PlayStation Store in the United States
The cited US PlayStation Store cancellation policy says a digital pre-order paid more than 14 days before release may be cancelled before release if the main product has not started downloading or streaming. For orders placed 14 days or less before release, it describes a 14-day period from payment, subject to the same download or streaming condition. Auto-download can start delivery, so check its status before relying on cancellation. This policy is specific to the United States; the page also notes that local law may provide additional rights.
Set your own limit for the downside
Use three questions to decide whether the remaining uncertainty is acceptable:
Best Value
- Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
- It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
- It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
- It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
- Can you afford the purchase to be tied up? Consider the amount and how long you might wait for the promised release or a refund.
- Would the game still appeal if some announced features were absent? If not, your decision depends heavily on future promises.
- Would waiting give you useful new evidence? A playable release, independent player feedback, or a clearer schedule may answer questions that current promotional material cannot.
If you are uncomfortable with the product’s current state, the uncertainty around future claims, or the applicable refund conditions, waiting is a valid choice. No general release-delay statistic can substitute for checking the specific game and the terms attached to your purchase.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
