discussion Do you think the era of early access games will ever end, or will it get worse?

[FiddleFaun]

I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. It helps developers become aware of errors, bugs, glitches, and faulty storylines.

It helps the game in a lot of ways.

 

[NoThanksMan]

The (not-so) new normal, and I've become pretty darn okay with it. It's super frustrating when a game gets abandoned, but I have plenty of games available to me now that are abandoned, but playable and with enough content in their current state to be enjoyed, that I simply would not have had access to without early access. So, net positive, I'd say.

 

[drilling]

unfortunately it's probably only going to get worse

 

[kremtoa]

It's probably going to get worse over time. Considering the box model for most games is just shipping it with as few bugs as possible. Now it seems like devs do early access to gauge interest from the gamers as well as fund the game further, if self-published. Even triple A games ship out a minimum viable product which has pre-order bonuses, digital deluxe versions. It's all so tiresome.

 

[Msm]

I think things will continue trundling along as they are now. Unless somehow AI takes more of a lead role in development, rooting out bugs earlier etc.

 

[pikxmon12]

I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. It helps developers become aware of errors, bugs, glitches, and faulty storylines.

It helps the game in a lot of ways.

That should be the case; the problem is when something at the level of a technical test is being SOLD to you as early access, replacing what used to be beta tests or audience tests.

 

[Republican Bear]

It's already worse and sadly I never thought one day we would have to pay to become beta testers.

I remember the OLD days when I'd get asked to Beta test an upcoming game and be offered a FREE final release copy for doing so. It was a mixture
of both fun and frustration as I'd find and report various bugs (some of which were fun too), but at least in the end I got a free game which I'd then review.

Now I get to pay for the same privilege!!

 

[cxyvyvyvyxcyvx]

I would guess quite the opposite will happen, nowadays we live in a very investement-oriented society, everything will become subscription-themed and even more pre-baked, not just games but cars and everything else you can consume. BMW already has subscriptions running for some years for some car addons

 

[Republican Bear]

Steam also needs to stop treating Early Access as a released game, and start using abandoned labels for games, that haven't released in over ten years.

 

[saltym]

I don't see early access ever leaving it is sadly used as a crutch nowadays to avoid accountability since the game is not finished

 

[cxyvyvyvyxcyvx]

I don't see early access ever leaving it is sadly used as a crutch nowadays to avoid accountability since the game is not finished

Hard to imagine that the "early access epidemy" started with minecrafts paid alpha in 2009 which has shown willingness of players buying unfinished games and skyrocketed with steams early access program in 2013 (2014?)

 

[Herzmankova]

To put it bluntly, it’s a scam: users pay up, but if they end up with an unscrupulous developer, updates can be put on hold indefinitely, and the developer might simply abscond with the money

 

[cxyvyvyvyxcyvx]

To put it bluntly, it’s a scam: users pay up, but if they end up with an unscrupulous developer, updates can be put on hold indefinitely, and the developer might simply abscond with the money

Isn't that also the destination of every Live-Service game that doen't have a satisfying average player count for the stock holders?
Gaming had become pretty sad nowadays and we just can glance back to the good old days of people doing games from their hearts.

 

[Herzmankova]

Isn't that also the destination of every Live-Service game that doen't have a satisfying average player count for the stock holders?
Gaming had become pretty sad nowadays and we just can glance back to the good old days of people doing games from their hearts.

I’ve bought a few games on Steam in the past, But the developer subsequently abandoned the project. I might as well just play pirated versions. Nowadays, unless a game is already finished, I won’t pay for anything on Steam

 

[Montimer]

I'm fine with lot of the early access games. Problem for me is that they kind of kill the "hype" around it.
Then whatever changes and additions they implement are kind of... meh.
Since you ended up playing through majority of the game anyway.

I do however have some games which I'm leaving on my wishlist until they're fully ready.