I swear the last half a dozen games I wishlisted have all been early access. I refuse to pay for a game to be a beta tester. I can’t be the only person who dislikes this approach to modern game releases.
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.
