How do video game companies stop users from launching a pre-loaded game on PC?

Question

If all the game’s files are downloaded and installed, how are users restricted from launching the game? I want to play Starfield NOW!

In: 3

Answer 1

By never releasing the decryption keys until the game is officially released. Without decryption keys, it is simply not possible to get plaintext files from the game packages, no files, no game.