ELI5; How are digital video games launched on release day? Is there someone standing by at the dev/publisher to push a go button?

Question

ELI5; How are digital video games launched on release day? Is there someone standing by at the dev/publisher to push a go button?

In: Technology

Answer 1

Store items have a start date and an optional end date. Those dates may be tied to the client computer’s region. 

The store allows purchase on anything with a start date less than now and an end date thats blank or in the future. 

You can also schedule ads, banners, etc… There’s no reason to do it manually when you can set it up way in advance when you own the game.

Steams a little weird, though. They have an option for a release button for partner vendors. That’s because steam doesn’t actually own the game, just the marketplace.