The reasoning for it is the same in both cases. And it's not a case of CDPR being 'idiots and lying about it'. The problem is a real one. Whether or not you agree with what they've done, the early release of a game does have serious consequences for marketing, which these days is timed to a scientific degree. (I'm not a fan of that myself, nor of the solution that CDPR came up with either, but I recognise the perceived necessity despite my dislike.)

If you can come up with a better solution to the problem, given that whatever you think of it, it is considered a real problem by CDPR/every other developer out there, then I'm sure that CDPR would be all ears.

Can someone please explain to me why it would be a problem if the game is leaked early? I mean it has already been leaked early, and nothing bad has happened yet. Are CD Projekt really that concerned about protecting us from those evil evil spoilers?

And you should re-read the title of the thread. This is about the retail copy, not the digital copy. I have never heard of anyone complaining that the pre-download cannot be played before release. Nor have I ever heard of anyone complaining that they need to use GOG to download patches for their GOG games. The issue here is that it is about the physical retail copy.

Well according to CDPR its a "security measure" to stop piracy on PC and since pirated games can't be played on PS4/Xbox One so far they didn't do the same for the console version. I guess if CDPR feel so insecure about DRM Free games on PC and have to impose restrictions which could cause problems for legitimate customers then they can't really criticize other developers/publishers for doing the same.

Oh my fucking god. You have real reading comprehension problems.

Are you even aware that the console versions don't have gutted files on disc? It's been leaked already, only PC version has that. Now what? You are telling me that they were only afraid of the PC version being released early?

And yet again, that's not my point, my point is that they LIED ABOUT THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I give up on you, I'll let someone else explain what I said to you if they even want to bother.

Spoilers are indeed evil. Many people have their experience spoiled by them.

But I guess the more important point is that pirates like to copy the leaked game and if they get it earlier then the regular paying customer then this is clearly an unfair disadvantage of the retailers and regular customers who want to buy the product. Even one a few days earlier is already kind of bad in this regard.

There are real criminals in the distribution chain of the retailers who just take a copy and do evil things with it. Wanting to protect the software until release day is legit, I guess.

If they are really that concerned about piracy, why are they releasing it on GOG? This is really about two things: shoving their own store down people's throat and preventing used sales.

Indeed, as I said before imposing restrictions on PC retail versions of their game while simultaneously promoting DRM Free is a bit hypocritical of CDPR and making it mandatory for retail customers to use the store is sort of similar to the retail boxes of games that just come with Steam keys instead of installation files.

As I see it, CDPR's options were:

* Full retail release at launch --> Leaks are more or less guaranteed, so pirate copies would be available and fully playable well ahead of launch. Lots of anger at pirates getting to play early, spoilers etc.

* Delayed retail release --> Retailers would be displeased and may refuse to carry CDPR's games in future. Retail buyers would be disappointed/angry at not getting to play the game at launch.

* Initial retail release omitting key files to stop leaks from being playable --> Some retail buyers are angry

* No retail release --> Potential retail buyers would be disappointed

No matter what they did, *someone* was going to be angry and/or disappointed.

I think it might have been best for them to simply have no retail release at all besides the CE (and have production of that delayed until after launch). No chance of leaks and CDPR would also be able to avoid regional pricing.

Have you taken your blood pressure medication? Just a polite inquiry.

How does it actually prevent used sales? Can we not expect that the missing content will easily be made available by someone on the internet? Will it really prevent second hand sales?

No DLC, no Support, no Paches unless 'someone uploads it to the internet', aka piracy?

They specifically stated they're not offering these without an account to combat piracy.

Okay, but that is clearly ordinary DRM. This surely kills retail (and the second hand market).

On the other hand: who is not doing that nowadays? Everyone is trying hard to kill retail of digital goods.

Still it's sad. One reason to not buy for full price or even pre-order. Companies want to play dirty and kill second hand market? Well, let's see who can hold the breath longer!

I strongly advice you do not buy retail but wait until the digital version comes at a price where you feel comfortable buying it without expecting a big loss in case you want to but cannot resell it.

Let's just compensate the killing of the second hand market by a reduced price level.

I can hold my breath for a very long time (100% Steam-free), and if Witcher 2 is an indication it will either be given away for free or sold for next to nothing eventually.

It's not like someone will break into your house and force you to watch all the story-relevant cutscenes. Avoiding getting spoiled is not that hard, in fact the game has already been leaked and I still know nothing of it because I simply wasn't looking for any. Avoiding spoilers is not that hard.

It's going to get pirated anyway, so why should it be a big deal for me if someone else gets to play it a few days before I do? That's nice for the person I guess, but it's not like I am getting my game later because of that. Or is this a case of "if I cannot have it, then no one should"?

How does it actually prevent used sales? Can we not expect that the missing content will easily be made available by someone on the internet? Will it really prevent second hand sales?

If you cannot get any patches for the game on the disc, then it is worthless, or maybe only worth a fraction of its original value. And sure, the content will be made available, but are they really expecting me to pirate patches? Not to mention the safety risk from running code from a not trustworthy source.

Well said.

There used to be times, and I'm fairly sure vast majority of Witcher 3 players are going to remember them, where preorder discs were sent out on date of release, with the full game. If I preordered Witcher 3, that's exactly what I would expect to get. There's no "technical standpoint" to the issue - CD Project just handled it badly.

Funny, that's how retail vs. digital releases worked for years. Why would people suddenly get upset?

I'm 21, don't really need those yet. I apologize for the rudeness, I was pretty angry (not at you), it just showed.

Cheers!