Writing about video games often offers me the perk of early access to some titles, so I'm fully aware of the position of privilege I'm writing this piece from, and it's not without its irony. However, just like when I'm reviewing a new Xbox controller or anything similar, I like to approach it as a consumer would and ask myself, "is it worth it?"
There was a time I couldn't afford full-price games at all, as a teenager I'd rely on dodgy copies from my local market for a chipped Playstation 1, or replay the demo disc from PC Mag over and over on my stepdad's ancient work computer.
In the case of a paid premium for getting up to a week early access to a game, I can’t justify the concept for most players. Take the high-scoring Avowed, for example. The game launches on Xbox Game Pass on February 18, but Game Pass subscribers can pay $25 to unlock it five days early. Non-subscribers must shell out $89.99 for the Premium Edition to join early. While I understand this is a lucrative money maker for the industry, I simply don't like what it takes away from us as a gaming community.
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