LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is Releasing Early for Some Players (& It’s a Tired Trend)

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I was seriously hyped when they announced LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight at Gamescom 2026 – it instantly went on my wish list! I grew up with Batman and DC Comics, and I’m still a huge fan. I love everything from the Arkham games to Batman: The Animated Series, so a LEGO Batman game is a total dream come true. It’s the fourth game in the series, and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to finally play it.

It’s been a great year for game releases, and a new LEGO Batman game is a welcome bonus. I’m really excited about LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, but I’m frustrated by a common practice it’s using: offering the game with three-day early access if you pre-order. While early access has become a standard pre-order incentive, it’s become so widespread that some players now expect it. However, this practice creates different release dates for players depending on whether they pre-order, and it’s a tiring marketing tactic that’s become all too common in the gaming industry.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s Three-Day Early Access is Just One of Many

  • The normal release date is May 29.
  • Early access is on May 26.

It’s difficult to say for sure which game first offered early access to players who pre-ordered, but Hellgate: London, released in 2007, is frequently mentioned as one of the pioneers. Now, almost 20 years later, offering early access is a very common way to encourage pre-orders. While Hellgate: London might not have single-handedly started the trend, it was an early example that led to major publishers pushing for pre-orders. When huge franchises like Call of Duty adopted this practice, it set a new standard, creating division among players and discouraging those who prefer to wait for reviews and opinions from critics and content creators before buying.

Early Access Pre-Order Rewards Almost Always Mean Paying More For Very Little Reward

While many games deserve attention, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a standout title. It’s available in two versions: a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition. If you pre-order the Deluxe Edition, you’ll get to start playing three days early. But the pre-order bonuses don’t stop there – players also receive:

  • The Legacy Collection — Arkham Trilogy Pack, Batman Beyond Pack, and Party Music Pack
  • The Mayhem Collection (DLC launching September 2026) with a playable Joker and Harley Quinn, new story mission, new mode, and the Sinister Pack
  • The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit

Pre-ordering the Standard Edition only provides gamers with The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit.

Image via Warner Bros. Games

While the Deluxe Edition of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight does include some extra goodies, it’s hard to justify the added cost, especially just to play the game three days early. Useful pre-order bonuses can be great, but early access doesn’t really add much value, particularly in a game where the story isn’t complex enough to be spoiled. This practice can actually diminish the enjoyment of a new release. Remember how exciting midnight movie premieres or game launches used to be, when everyone shared the experience together? That sense of community feels increasingly uncommon these days.

Splitting players into groups – some getting to play a game early and others waiting – creates division and makes it harder to talk about the game together. While LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is visually appealing, its promotion highlights the gaming industry’s ongoing tendency to find ways to profit from nearly every part of the gaming experience.

The Standard Edition costs $70, while the Deluxe Edition costs $90.

Pre-Orders Used to Bring Gamers Together

Pre-ordering games isn’t the problem itself. It used to be a big deal before digital downloads became common. Back then, reserving a physical copy at stores like GameStop was often the only way to guarantee you’d get it on launch day. Stores would even throw midnight release parties, bringing together those who pre-ordered and eager fans hoping to snag a copy before they sold out. The launch of Halo 3 is a prime example. That game wasn’t just popular – it showed how much gaming had grown, proving it was a major part of pop culture, just like movies, TV, and music.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Definitely Won’t Be the Last Game to Offer Early Access for Pre-Orders

This practice is likely to continue, as it’s been common in gaming for over ten years. As long as publishers profit from it, they’ll keep doing it. I’m not against developers making money – I want them to be successful! – but having different release dates for the same game feels unnecessary. With a new Batman game like LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight being the closest fans will get to another Arkham title for a while, it’s somewhat understandable why people might pay extra to play it sooner.

It would be much better if everyone could experience the game on the same day. Early access for those who pre-order not only diminishes the sense of community, but also makes it easy to accidentally have the game spoiled. With social media being so immediate, big reveals are often shared within hours of release. While the story itself isn’t expected to be complex, the game likely contains many fun surprises like cameos and hidden secrets that players would prefer to discover on their own, rather than seeing them spoiled online. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a major release this year, and a simultaneous launch would be a great way to unite fans. Unfortunately, that won’t happen, which is disappointing.

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2026-01-30 18:42