Would it be possible to circumvent a Pre-Load restriction?

[ersatz]

General question,

How do Pre-loads even work?
Is it just game data with no executable?
What essential files are prevented from running?
and can the restrictions be bypassed?

thanks for enlightening me.

[LeFiXER]

I think more context is required. Pre-load is a term that is just too vague.

[ersatz]

steam game preloads.

I need to run the Elden Ring, brother. You know this.

[GreenHouse]

No. Files are encrypted and would take literal thousands of years to decrypt them. So I don't think I need to explain why it's completely pointless to even try, when you can wait for a few days.
You don't need to be that smart to know that it obviously isn't possible. Don't you think that if it was the case, then these preloaded games would be available on day one everywhere? Or that preloading wouldn't be a thing?

[ersatz]

This is why I'm asking because I wasn't aware of the tech behind how they worked. Now that I know the files are encrypted that makes a lot of sense. Also, obviously if they could be bypassed yes, the industry would opt not to use them. BUT that doesn't forgo inquiring how the technology even works.

[SunBeam]

^ Not sure if you've noticed or not: there are several cracking groups who post cracked Steam versions AFTER the game has been released. Now.. with all that knowledge they possess, were they to know how to decrypt/decode preload files, wouldn't we see releases posted way before the game has become available to play? And since that doesn't happen, there's your answer.