The Epic Games Store will not support pre-loading in time for the release of Borderlands 3.
Epic Games Store (EGS) will not support pre-loading in time for the release of Borderlands 3, according to a tweet from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney. Sweeney was replying to a question from a user on Twitter when he confirmed the service would not be available on EGS in time for the launch of the game.
I’m sorry, we won’t have support for preloading in the Borderlands release timeframe.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 12, 2019
Pre-loading allows consumers to download the game in advance, activating it on the launch day, saving time and heartache. For many people who may not have the best internet, it is a precious service. Downloading modern games with large file sizes can easily take hours. The majority of online game retailers like Steam, Origin, and Uplay all offer the service.
So far, Epic Games Store has failed to set the world alight when it comes to fundamental aspects most consumers expect from a game launcher. Things like pre-loading, shopping carts, and wishlists are still on the horizon, but Epic seems to be focusing more on making the store work for developers. Not exactly a bad tactic, but a lack of sales data allows us to make any judgment on how the practice will pay off in the long term.
Borderlands 3 is shaping up to be one of the more significant launches of the year, even with various controversies regarding the game. I don’t expect Epic’s servers to have any issue delivering the game to the people who want it on launch day, however. The company does manage to handle millions of people playing Fortnite daily, after all.
Borderlands 3 will release on PS4, Xbox One and PC via the Epic Store on September 13.
