Turns out, it's neither. You can't play at all, no .exe or .config file supplied with the pre-load. Huh.

So, when I pre-ordered it, it kinda implied early access.
Instead, we get to look at the manual and data files. Oh, and the auto-patcher.
I don't mind, I'd just have been happier if it said "pre-load - you cannot play the game until 19th" a bit more explicitly.