Why the 24th for UK?

[Tamed]

All the files are the same, downloadable on Steam.. why do the UK players have to wait 3 extra days? Where's the REAL logic behind this and not just some PR spin?

 

[ErichRommel]

I wonder that too ^^

 

[wapamingo]

because you guys in the old countries are not as cool as us in the NA

But seriously: you would think that there should not be a difference.

Maybe something to do with agreements they made or simply ship time from manufacturer to other markets (closer to NA than to Europe), I don't know.,,,

 

[SeptimusOctopus]

Maybe someone at 2K thinks Europe is 3 days ahead because of time zones?

 

[kaltorak]

How egocentric. You don't even say "why the 24th for europe".

 

[wapamingo]

that's the British for you. always the nose up in the air.

 

[Tamed]

This might make sense for the boxed copy but NOT digital.

 

[stannis]

I would imagine there is some asinine EU regulation or something like that stopping it from being released on the 21st. It happens for so many games that I'm used to it.

 

[kaltorak]

I would imagine there is some asinine EU regulation or something like that stopping it from being released on the 21st. It happens for so many games that I'm used to it.

There's no such regulation. It's more about deals they make with retailers.

 

[craig123]

because you guys in the old countries are not as cool as us in the NA

But seriously: you would think that there should not be a difference.

Maybe something to do with agreements they made or simply ship time from manufacturer to other markets (closer to NA than to Europe), I don't know.,,,

that's the British for you. always the nose up in the air.

We give you your independence and this is how you treat us!

 

[Ahriman]

Remember remember 24th of September
Firaxis treasonous plot
I know of no reason why Firaxis treason
Should ever, be, forgot.

[Answer: who knows, pretty common though, no?]

 

[VikingMaekel]

Because Games in Europe historically get released on Fridays, the 24th is a Friday
Games in NA usually get releases on Tuesdays. (the 21st)

So the reason why would probably have to do with the habit of local retailers more than anything else.
And why for digital then? Local retailers will ban Civ V if they can't release the hard copy on the same day as the digital one

Blizzard was able to get SCII released on Tuesday in Europe as well, but it's an exception.

 

[mjs0]

This has been discussed many times...
The brick and mortar stores are geared up to release games on Tuesdays in North America and on Fridays in Europe. These b+m retailers have a lot of clout with the publishers to the extent that the publishers cannot afford to tick them off and release digitally three days earlier.
So the release date is the same for digitial and physical distribution and is set by the expectations and business processes of the b+m retailers.

EDIT: The ninjas are out in force today...

 

[Cilpot]

There's no such regulation. It's more about deals they make with retailers.

Exactly. How happy would the retailers be if the game was available digitally for days before the boxed copy?

 

[craig123]

Remember remember 24th of September
Firaxis treasonous plot
I know of no reason why Firaxis treason
Should ever, be, forgot.

[Answer: who knows, pretty common though, no?]

So they should be hanged, drawn and quartered?

 

[Louis XXIV]

This has been discussed many times...
The brick and mortar stores are geared up to release games on Tuesdays in North America and on Fridays in Europe. These b+m retailers have a lot of clout with the publishers to the extent that the publishers cannot afford to tick them off and release digitally three days earlier.
So the release date is the same for digitial and physical distribution and is set by the expectations and business processes of the b+m retailers.

EDIT: The ninjas are out in force today...

THIS

You guys didn't ninja me, but I wrote it out myself. Then I see you saved me the trouble

 

[PawelS]

Why isn't it Friday in Europe before Tuesday in NA?

 

[sghiminini]

Me think they should have released on 17th for Europe and the 21st for NA

 

[kaltorak]

That friday theory is just that, a thoery. I buy LOTS of games, and they are released as many fridays as wensdays or whatever.

 

[Alki]

Surely being the 51st Stae of the Union has to have some benefits? Give the UK a break, we have a 'special relationship' ffs!