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

This year is already packed with awesome releases, and while another LEGO Batman game is simply icing on the cake for many, for me it’s one of the most appealing releases of the year. As hyped as I am for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, though, the game is following one trend that got old a long time ago: three-day early access. Getting to play a game early is a pre-order perk that’s been common for years, becoming so common that for some potential players, it’s even expected. That doesn’t make it a good thing, though. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s release date is now going to be different depending on whether a player pre-orders it or not, which is one of the industry’s most tiresome marketing tactics.

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 hard to pinpoint exactly which game started this trend, but Hellgate: London is often cited as one of the earliest to offer early access for pre-orders. That was all the way back in 2007, and nearly 20 years later, the tactic is one of the most common ways to incentivize pre-orders. Hellgate: London may not have directly kickstarted the trend, but it was a drop in the gaming ocean that would ripple into a wave of AAA publishers pushing for pre-orders. Once massive games like Call of Duty got on board, it marked a new standard that splits the player base and punishes those who want to wait to see what critics and content creators think about the title in question.

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

There are a lot of games that could be put in the spotlight, but LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a great example. There are two versions of the game, those being the Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition. Of course, the Deluxe Edition is the one that grants three-day early access if pre-ordered. The LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight pre-order bonuses at least don’t end there, though, as players also get:

• 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

Image via Warner Bros. Games

Sure, there are other rewards, which is a silver lining. There’s an argument that paying extra for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s Deluxe Edition is worth this extra content, but it’s hard to justify the more costly version being worth it just to start the game 72 hours earlier. While extra rewards that are actually useful to players can sometimes make pre-ordering worthwhile, getting to play the game slightly early just doesn’t make much sense, especially when the game in question doesn’t have a super deep story that could potentially be spoiled by other early-access adopters. Frankly, this approach can really take the fun out of a release. Midnight movie premieres or game releases used to be so exciting, with everyone waiting around to experience the same event together, but that sense of community has become rare as of late.

Dividing the player base into those who get to enjoy a game early and those who have to wait three more days while others get to have fun kills the sense of comaradery and hinders discussions. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s world looks incredibly charming, but its marketing is another reminder of how much the industry has continued to try and monetize as many aspects of the gaming experience as possible.

Pre-Orders Used to Bring Gamers Together

The concept of pre-ordering isn’t the issue. Before the industry started to prioritize digital releases, pre-orders really used to mean something. For a long time, going to the local video game store or Game Stop to pre-order a game was one of the only ways to secure a physical copy before launch day. Ahead of the release day, stores would host midnight launch parties, where both those who pre-ordered and those hoping to get a copy before they sold out would meet up and party together. Halo 3‘s release was one of the most notable examples of this trend. The third game in Xbox’s flagship franchise marked a turning point for the industry; it didn’t just show that video games were getting more popular, it proved that gaming was a thriving part of pop culture that was on par with movies, television, and music.

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

Unfortunately, this trend is probably here to stay. It’s been a regular part of gaming for over a decade now. If it keeps making publishers extra money, it will be utilized. Don’t get me wrong, though. I fully want developers to succeed and have amazing sales numbers, but having two different release dates just feels silly at this point. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks like the closest thing Batman fans are going to get to a new Arkham game for a while, so it’s at least a little understandable why some would be so willing to spend extra money to jump in early.

However, it would be even more exciting if everyone could enjoy the game together on the same day. The community aspect isn’t the only thing that pre-order early access hurts, either. It’s also an easy way to spoil the game for fans. With the way social media works, major surprises can pop up within hours of release. While the actual narrative of the game is expected to be more fun than deep, there could be tons of cameos, unlockables, and Easter eggs that players would have preferred to see themselves as opposed to them popping up while scrolling through social media. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is one of 2026’s biggest games, and a single release day would be a fun way to bring longtime fans together. That isn’t going to happen, though, and that’s a real shame.

Released

May 29, 2026

Franchise

LEGO Batman

PC Release Date

May 29, 2026