I keep seeing topics about pre downloading if you bought a digital copy.

I am buying a physical copy. Can I pre download the patch or updates or is this not needed?

My apologies for the confusion but there are people saying many things and I am old school; I don't get all this digital crap :/

No.

Unless you have the key you be f'd and are waiting 馃様

You will have to wait until you have it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DCDeacon/status/611339800373628928Godd howard's sone who died for our bad karma said that if you ordered a physical fo4 on pc, on release date you do get the steam key too.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1541700-pc-version-comes-with-only-one-disc/

6 pages of PC "rants". Have fun while reading it.

On PC you'll need a Steam Key! That's the copy protection of Bethesda for quite awhile now.

This key will likely be included in your Game-Box. So no preloading for you until your game arrives.

On your disc is a small part of the game (5,2gb I read), and a steam installer (including drivers I guess).

Activate your game on Steam -> The rest of the game will be downloaded by Steam.

Steam will download all additional needed content for you. As well as patches. (if you have autoupdate enabled)

If you are on console, you should be fine, I guess.

As far as I read both console versions (PS4/XBoxOne) contain the full game.

So you would just need to download patches/updates if there any.

Yes, all the PC retail copies include a steam key inside, same as Skyrim, New Vegas, Dishonored, etc. I don't have an optical drive, so the only way I can install from the disc is by redeeming the key on Steam.

Have you seen my thread at http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1543686-international-borders-svck/? does it apply there to i sure hope it does.