Welcome to another YvoCaro Plays! This time, I want to chat with you about Early Access: is it a gamble, or does it work perfectly for you?
Two Points of View
If you’re familiar with Steam gaming, you will recognise the term Early Access. Being a console gamer at heart, the concept was new to me till a few years ago. But as I understand it, the Early Access stage of a game offers players the chance to try out games while they’re still in development.
For the developer, it can be a great way to gather feedback, refine mechanics, and build a community before the official launch. For gamers, it means they often can get the game at a discounted price, and they might even influence the development.
Let’s examine the pros and cons of this concept for indie developers and gamers. Would it also benefit bigger AAA titles?
Advantages of Early Access
One of the biggest advantages of Early Access is the opportunity for gamers to be part of the development process and to satisfy their curiosity about the game. Indie titles like Hades, Ooblets, Coral Island and Against the Storm used this model successfully, inviting players to offer feedback, point out bugs, and suggest improvements, which in turn helped the developers fine-tune their games. The open dialogue between creators and players in Early Access can lead to more polished final releases, as we saw with Hades, which became an award-winning hit after its Early Access period.
For indie studios, Early Access can be a lifeline. Smaller teams often lack the resources to conduct large-scale testing, and having a community actively engaged in playing the game provides invaluable insight. Players can feel like they’re contributing to the game’s success, and in return, developers get the feedback they need to iron out any issues.
Don’t forget, Early Access can also be a source of funding, even if the price for the game is lower. Even in these early stages, marketing buzz is created, often in very active Discord communities hosted by the developer or their publishers. Sure, it means the developers have to divert resources to the communities, but it can also mean the game is off to a flying start.
The Downside of Early Access
That being said, Early Access isn’t without its downsides. One of the most common criticisms is that players can be asked to pay full price for a game that’s not finished. It’s one thing to jump into an Early Access game with the knowledge that it’s still being worked on, but when you’re paying full price or if you have supported the game on Kickstarter years before, the game you get should at least feel playable. It’s reasonable for players to expect a certain level of polish, even in Early Access, to ensure they’re not just paying for an alpha or beta version that still has a long way to go before completion. Or, as we sometimes have to remark in our previews, players might get a game that really needs more time in the oven.
There’s also the issue of broken promises, where some games never reach their full potential or fail to meet the expectations set by developers. Or games that take another direction altogether, which is not what the player was looking for. This can leave players feeling shortchanged, as they invested time and money into a game that may never be completed or that is not their cup of tea.
For developers, there’s additional pressure in Early Access. Constant feedback can also create pressure to make changes that might not align with the original vision or might be beyond the scope of what can be achieved with available resources. And to be honest, players aren’t always very patient and demand more and more. Added to that, first impressions do matter. So, if a game is really not up to par, even in Early Access, it might harm the marketing of the game. It’s a fine line between generating enough enthusiasm with Early Access and making sure the hype for the game hasn’t died down by the time the game enters full release.
Early Access for AAA Games?
But what about AAA games? There’s an argument to be made that more big-budget titles could benefit from an Early Access period. It doesn’t happen often, but some big-priced games release with very annoying bugs. Games that were hyped for years, only to disappoint players who expected a wonderful product. If these studios had followed the Early Access route, the gaming community might have been more forgiving, understanding that the game was still a work in progress. As it is, postponing a game’s release to ensure quality might lead to criticism, but in the long run, it results in a more refined and enjoyable experience.
Though this might be more difficult to achieve for a console game, there are ways to work with this. Like Disney Dreamlight Valley, the game was in a pre-launch phase for quite some time, allowing the developers to iron out the kinks.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Early Access is about choice. If you’re willing to take a gamble on a game that’s still in progress and want to be part of its journey, it can be a rewarding experience. Or you can simply wait for the finished product. Either way, the decision is in your hands, and that’s the beauty of Early Access.
If you like these bits of gaming thoughts, you can find the previous ones here.
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