So... how does Early Access work with physical pre-orders?

[Nominous]

I only vaguely remember the process for digital, but how does it work with physical copy pre-orders? On my receipt they'll give me a code, right? Then I just enter the code on PSN, or wherever, and then it gives me the full game download and everything?

[charlemagne]

From what I heard yeah, you get a code when you order the physical copy just in case it doesn't get to you in time.

[KaitlynOfOz]

Essentially if i remember how the original 1.0 Physical CE was, you got a serial number from the reseller that stated you had purchased the CE. When you registered that code with SE your account was credited with having CE and thus early access. You could download and play the game from that account for about 1 week or so after launch when most resellers would have had the physical edition out to customers. Mine ended up being delayed so I had to contact support for an extension of my code, but they were very helpful with that aspect.
I suspect that the servers will go down for maintenance for probably the week of the release and come up early for the early access people. If you have a key from the reseller entered on your account, you will be able to download and play the game without having the physical CE in your hand. Then when it shows up, enter the valid key it comes with and continue playing.

[Airget]

You order game, before release you get an EA code that allows you to download game and to play during a set amount of time.

When that amount of time runs out if you don't input the CD key that came with the physical copy you can't play the expansion.

That's one way it's been handled when it's come to EA and I think they even did that with the 1.0 release. If I recall correctly for EA you got a code on your store receipt and with that code you could gain entry into Early Access.

[Chevrefoil]

There's usually a grace period if the seller doesn't send you a code digitally. Typically a week.

I'm pretty sure most major sellers now send codes digitally even if you are getting a box copy. Or you can order from Amazon where you are guaranteed to get it the day of release (for Prime only?? I'm not sure. But everyone should get Amazon Prime >.>)

[Zumi]

If you ordered at gamestop you may have to go to the store and re pre order once they officially start because they print codes on receipts.

[Snugglebutt]

I suspect that the servers will go down for maintenance for probably the week of the release and come up early for the early access people.

I doubt that will happen unless SE makes the month in which gets released a subscription free month for everyone. No one I know would be happy that they paid for a month subscription and lost an entire week for a maintenance just because some people bought the expansion early. If they did take it down for week I would demand they gave me back my subscription fee for that month given I plan to buy the expansion though maybe not pre-order on top of paying possible subscription fee for that period, it would piss me off big time if those who paid the same amount as myself caused me to lose out on an entire weeks paid for game time just because they paid earlier.

[Vespar]

snip

Nope it will happen. Probably a few times over the first 2weeks, they'll have emergency maintenances. Cant test for everything, so the bugs will crop up as more people try to play. No matter how good Quality Assurance is, there's always something. All they can do is hope its not something insanely game breaking or critical. Though I doubt the game would be down for an entire week. Just maybe a day or 4-5hrs here and there.

[Yamimarik]

The way EA worked for 2.0 launch was, you got a code sent to your email (I ordered online, so obviously mine was email) and you used that code to download the full client to your PS(3-4) and when your physical copy came, you had up to a week from the start of launch to get the actual serial number input into your account. My game came the day of release, so I didn't have to wait long (ofc I paid a lil' extra for that kind of shipping... so)

[Nominous]

I see. Thanks, everyone!