Square Enix, creator of 2011’s critically acclaimed “Deus Ex: Human Revolution,” announced today that the tiered pre-order system being used for their latest video game has been shut down.
Known as “Augment Your Pre-Order,” it was used to incentivize more buyers of “Human Revolution’s” sequel “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,” to pre-order the game. As pre-sales grew, a new set of bonuses would become available, and consumers could select within each tier their choice of rewards. Some of the options included character design variations in-game, a digital art book or soundtrack sampler, and a digital graphic novel, or novella. If enough people pre-ordered the game, at the top tier, it would be released four days early.
Numerous consumers were angered by this marketing decision. Most of the incentives involved choices that might be equally desirable, yet only one option in each tier would be available. For those willing to spend $190, the “Collector’s Edition” would contain every possible choice for each tier. Tier one was at least unlocked before the cancellation was announced.
In a statement made today on deusex.com, the reason for this marketing decision was explained. “When it was first conceived, we wanted the program to give you more choice about what you received in terms of pre-order incentives,” it explained. “In the past, when we chose those packages ourselves and split them across regions, it has caused frustration.”
Since this decision, the “Collector’s Edition” is now priced at $139.99, and a new “Day One” edition, listed at $59.99, contains all of the digital incentives from the “Augment Your Pre-Order” system. The game will be available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,” regardless of the number of pre-orders, is scheduled to be released February 23rd, 2016.
Have you pre-ordered “Mankind Divided” yet? Do you intend to? As always, let us know in the comments below.