If it’s done well, it’s an excellent process. It lets smaller studios start getting paid earlier, which helps significantly. It also lets them establish a strong feedback loop with their player base.
Factorio is an excellent example. The player base provided instant feedback on the gameplay, as they brought in more features. They also weren’t afraid to change things that didn’t quite work as well as planned. It also helped guide where to focus efficiency efforts.
Unfortunately, a number of big companies have jumped on the bandwagon. They don’t quite get what early access is good for, and just use it as an excuse for bugs, as well as to drum up cheap advertising.
I think they’re the worse example of early access.
It’s a stable game for years. And the early access title is hurting it.
Move it to the Terraria’s and Minecraft’s of the world, and continue releasing new features, rather than this purgatory of refusing to call it a “completed” game.
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If it’s done well, it’s an excellent process. It lets smaller studios start getting paid earlier, which helps significantly. It also lets them establish a strong feedback loop with their player base.
Factorio is an excellent example. The player base provided instant feedback on the gameplay, as they brought in more features. They also weren’t afraid to change things that didn’t quite work as well as planned. It also helped guide where to focus efficiency efforts.
Unfortunately, a number of big companies have jumped on the bandwagon. They don’t quite get what early access is good for, and just use it as an excuse for bugs, as well as to drum up cheap advertising.
Another great example is Project Zomboid.
I think they’re the worse example of early access.
It’s a stable game for years. And the early access title is hurting it.
Move it to the Terraria’s and Minecraft’s of the world, and continue releasing new features, rather than this purgatory of refusing to call it a “completed” game.
It’s not finished though. They don’t have NPCs etc which is the scope they set out to do, but it’s a great game and very polished in its own right.
Or an excuse to dump whatever they have built so far and say “we’ll finish it” and never do.
Drg survivor has been done right too as was drg. GSG is a great developer.