PlayStation Network Introduces Game Pre-Loading

Now that digital distribution is becoming more and more common, digital distribution outlets are pretty much expected to include some sort of pre-loading system. Steam has been doing this for quite a while, and now the PlayStation Network is following in its footsteps.

With this new functionality, gamers will be able to download certain games before release day, without actually being able to play them. The game will then unlock the second the game releases. Essentially, it just allows players to play downloadable games more quickly after their release date.

The first game to use this new pre-loading system will be Sorcery, the much anticipated PlayStation Move game that first debuted when the Move was revealed several years ago. The game is scheduled to be released next week, but users can pre-download the game before then.

If the PSN’s pre-loading functionality becomes popular enough, it might become an industry standard. Xbox will probably follow in their footsteps, if received well. We will see if any other company has plans to include pre-loading capabilities in their consoles at this year’s E3.

By Angelo M. D'Argenio

05/18/2012 01:33PM