The Problem with Early Access Games
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2023
- More and more games seem to be taking the Early Access approach to development. While this has definitely delivered some fantastic final products, I personally can't stand the model. It may feel like an old man yelling at the sky but there has to be a better way of doing things instead of releasing pieces of a game over long stretches of time. A way that doesn't put pressure on developers but also doesn't flood the market with undercooked products.
- Hry
Early access only works when your game is almost done. Testing the market, getting some feedback and hints for future improvements, etc.
The problem is when you release a broken game disguised as early access, waiting for people's help to fix it.
What really grind my gears in early access is to things. 1. Everybody hypes on the early access release and when (if) the game is finally fully out pretty much nobody plays it anymore except die-hard fans who already know the whole game upside down. This is especially sad when it comes multiplayer games. The 2. thing is that no matter how bad or wonky the game is it's still okay because it has early access badge on it. Certain devs seems to take advantage of this and release stuff that are never meant to be finished games or if they are finished nobody would give money from such mess. With ea there can be empty promises that the final product will be diamond and nobody does think it wrong when that's not happening.
I'm looking at you Ark: Survival Evolved 😂
I just wish there was an easy way to look at new releases but filter out Early Access garbage.
For real. I'm glad they at least have a big EARLY ACCESS tag so I can easily avoid them and wait for the full version.
It'll never happen and Steam is actively hiding the Early Access tags on pop up windows now. They do not show until you click and go the game's store page because they want to distract you with screenshots and marketing hype before they tell you it's probably a hack job somebody is working on in their spare time and is going to quit doing even that once sales dry up. There *are* a lot of very good Early Access games but the trash pile grows by the day and the suits at Steam HQ are laughing about it all the way to the bank.
I'm so sick and fucking tired of the Early Access model. I will not buy Early Access games anymore. Enshrouded is right up my alley, so is PalWorld, so is Underspace, after I got conned by Valheim, Arcane Waters, I will NEVER do it. I freaking hate it. Release a GAME. Valheim made millions, then they can just hang it up.
I refuse to buy anything tagged Early Access, regardless of how good it is. Time to stop spoiling these devs, 80% have been "cancelled" anyway.
It really is heartbreaking since I know some devs REALLY need that money but ya, it's too much of a gamble to maybe not get a final product.
Established game developers shouldn't release early access
For real. I get it for indies but the bigger studios really shouldn't need to do that. If they need to test stuff, just have betas like everyone else.
Also game developers has free will to make their games how ever they like. Just like movies and TV shows.
Ironically, I'm a lot more likely to roll the dice on an Early Access game from a developer that actually has a proven track record (looks lovingly at My Time At Sandrock) because they generally know how to drip-feed their game over the course of time between launching into EA and finishing the game. Every new big update is a chance to play through the game again. And then when it hits launch, it's a satisfying delayed payoff.
my biggest issue which you touched on briefly is the fact that some early access games change so drastically in development that the final product is so dissimilar and features you've come to appreciate get cut.
I know it's a hot take but at a certain point I went from loving the very early access version of Dead Cells to downright hating the full bloated version it's come to be today. at one point it was a very tight linear roguelike with a satisfying boss but now it's a massive branching, grindy, and overly difficult game with the way full boss cell mode works. yeah it's a great game for those who like it but the version I played and enjoyed is basically impossible to experience now so I haven't touched the game in years.
That is 100% a symptom of "people don't actually know what they want". If these devs take in too much feedback up to the release, it can ruin what made the concept so special in the first place.
@@talkgamingtome just look at the current state of Helldivers 2 lol
Other than the complete lack of oversight by Steam, the worst thing about Early Access is that people have become so accustomed to games being unfinished that developers aren't even bothering with using Early Access to release their unfinished games anymore. They just dump them right out on the store with no warning at all that the games are incomplete. And what does Steam do about it? Nothing, of course.
Hey, here's MOST of the game. You can play through MOST of it without the ending or all the content. You can experienced 95% of the game. You totally will want to play the whole fucking thing through again once we spend 4 years on the last 5% of it.
@@porterwake3898 I remember one game called Folk Tale from back in 2013 that the developer got greenlit on a linear campaign design and then changed it to a sandbox game before release and when he released it all he had to sell was a very early pre alpha of the original concept that you couldn't even save. It stayed this was for an entire year because that's how long it took him to rebuild the engine just so he could start making the new concept, never mind he was telling people it'd be *finished* in a year... and then another year, and another and another and another, all the while begging people to give it positive reviews or else he'd have to abandon it. Finally, four years later while the game was *still* in alpha, he told people the only reason anybody would negative review it was because they wanted it to fail and if they didn't give him more positive reviews and improve the rating he was going to "wrap it up as-is", i.e., abandon it. The backlash was so bad that people flooded the game with negative reviews and a couple months later he broke it with an update and then disappeared.
And the worst part? Still to this day people defend him.
I have my games on patreon when in development but it doesnt get enough audience feedback and members supporting. So I am thinking of putting some games on early access
(From the steamworks docs) "Steam Early Access enables you to sell your game on Steam while it is still being developed, and provides context to customers that a product should be considered "unfinished."". I was hoping to use this option to start sharing dev builds of my game and get feedback but if people can review then it's not ideal as the game is technically unfinished.
A lot of the new paradox interactive games are getting major bug fixes a year (Example: CK3, but not really bug fix as much as content) (or longer in Imperator’s case) after main launch.
I couldn't agree more, and I think they should just stick to demos. Another idea would be for steam to hide early access games by default and make it a user setting to see them. Or even a separate store page. That would reinforce the "special" status of these games and make it better for the developpers too. I have been trying to hide these games but they keep creeping in everywhere on steam, so I'm constantly disappointed when I notice it.
Oh I love that separate store idea; put them all together so those that want to find them can and those that want to avoid don't have to deal with it.
one of my very favorite games of all time is DRG which began as early access. DRG released as a very solid but barebones game and used the early access period to make more content and progression based on player feedback and it achieved this wonderfully. But so many use early access as a cheap method of beta testing instead starting with a solid foundation with a clear goal in mind.
Exactly. Some just throw out a half-baked product to fix over time without that firm base to build from.
You should put out "Early Access" YT videos. You still get paid, but you are immune from criticism because "hey, it's early access, I told you it wasn't finished".
Lol early access movies and tv shows.
Well as hard as this may come off to some game developpers: Maybe there are too many games being made, way more than we actually need. And maybe the people who can't financially sit through a few years of development, shouldn't be making games at all. I see no reason to buy into an unfinished product ever, because I know I'm not gonna have a good time with a void of content bug fiesta. This is especially true for those C tier games that are just a copy of another game, that has been done 100 times over the past few years already, just because two dudes thought they needed to insert their own ideas, usually without external feedback of how well liked that idea would be.
I totally get where you are coming from. There is just SO much out there already. Many early access games are just adding to the noise.
If it costs money: Call it early access and face reviews. Good and bad.
If it doesn't cost money: Call it open beta and don't worry about reviews until release.
This is how it is and how it should be. There's no other alternative. Otherwise companies are free to con customers left and right.
Depending on the pricing the reviewers should NOT account for whether it's an early access or full release game.
As a dev im very sad, early access is a way to save poor dev like me, but lazy dev abuse it.
I feel for you. It's really needed for a lot of devs but it's getting a bad rep. I wish there was another way so you can make the game you want and consumers get what they want at the same time. Maybe one day we'll have a good system.
@@talkgamingtome for me i will release demo that contain around 3 hours of non-repetitive gameplay for free, just to gain the trust.
Hello hello again! Great video as always and yes, those are some valid alternatives to early access. This video definitely had me thinking if I'll ever be able to get through my own backlog! At least, in a way that I feel I've experienced all the game has to offer and can "move on", whether that means fully beating it or not. How have you been? Hope the weather has been good wherever you are and of course work hard, play hard!
Thanks Benson! The backlog is indeed endless lol.
Been good but busy as hell. At least the weather is getting nice, which also doesn't help the desire to sit around and make vids haha. Hope you've been good as well.
My problem as a dev is if I don't have the rest of my games be early access in the future il go through what I am currently going through with my first game (Making a perfect game with no money for almost a decade as I wait to perfectly finish it before releasing it) so I end up a wageslave to another real job that pays hourly which delays the games development even longer and makes people mad about development time.
with early access the hope is to work full time being paid for my work somewhat regularly by releasing games in early access chapters; but still commit to finishing the product. I feel like EA only has a bad rap because people dont finish the EA games but it might be really necessary to work full time as a indie dev
That is where I understand the need for EA to exist. Devs can't be expected to work for free on something that might not even payoff. EA does get a bad rap (unfortunately) but hopefully we're trending in the right direction or Steam will introduce some new options that everyone can enjoy.
Then fix your shit game after mate because your game is clearly still in early access for 10 years even if you didnt wage slave. Stop lying bruv
EA should be more like a beta test of a mostly finished environment. Some games I own or want are in EA for more than 5 years now and at this point you have to wonder if they are ever finished or if there is even the intent to do so. Even if they will be finished, at this point they are probably outdated. I used to like the idea of EA, but I shy away from it these days.
Same. After a certain point, the ideas can become old and your interest just evaporates. I'm sure on my deathbed there will still be games in EA from now.
The engine I use for my game gives players the advantage of continuing the game from their last save without having to worry about starting over(as long as they don't uninstall the game). But I'm still scared of putting the game on early access. It's story-intensive and episodic in nature, so the whole thing about early access still makes me wonder if I should put it there or not.😐
@vcdgamer continuing from the last save sounds like a great solution to the resetting problem. An episodic narrative game is a perfect candidate for EA since it's already in pieces by design. As long as what you put out to start is a solid build and reflects what's to come, it should be fine. But if you can survive until the game is finished, I always feel that's the best option. Best of luck though!
@@VanyaTheSlaviclol....
But hear me out.....
A special checkpoint.😅
At least 4 of the early access titles I have bought on Steam have actually released a full version, the worst of the bunch is DayZ which offered so much promise, never advanced to what it was supposed to and just went to full release anyway and the PC version didn't even have the same start as the consoles where you would do a tutorial kind of thing. The other 3 are the Forest, Ark Survival evolved and Mount and Blade 2. All the other early access some more than 9 years old at this point are still unreleased and nowhere near the finish line.
It sucks that a company can stay in early access for as long as they want to do as much or little work as they want, if any.
Awesome video man! I have been researching some points on the early access topic.
Im making a video about V Rising, the game has been on early access for one year and only recieved one update so far, no updates around the pvp problems on the game so far.
Many people use the early access excuse to justify the game`s problems, but if you dont give feedback or criticise the game`s problem, and "just go play something else" then the dev`s dont know what the comunnity wants, and eventually the game dies.
Glad you liked it! Man, has V Rising already been out in EA for a year?!?!? That's so wild. That's another one I really want to try but don't want to touch it until it's fully done...whenever that is.
How about wait until your game is ready to release before releasing it and not make your consumers suffer, developers?
Was Cyberpunk 2077 "early access" or just completely broken, not ready and unoptimized on launch?
For real. You think there would be a priority on making them as close to perfect as possible instead of releasing stuff that needs a ton of patches to even work as intended.
Early access is like watching an ongoing 5-seasons TV show starting with only 3 episodes available. Like you either will totally forget it between seasons/updates, or you will be hooked well enough to spread the word and hype the game.
Exactly. I was going to use that analogy so I'm glad you said it. Or like watching half a movie and then coming back in a year to watch the full thing.
@@talkgamingtome we drank the same tap water, now we think the same analogies
It's similar, but even worse. It's like a series where episodes 1, 2 and 5 are done. But not 4 and 6 . Episode 3 is half done and they haven't editted the sound effects yet, but it's watchable and you can't criticise because "hey, early access".
bruh i'm so sad i played most of the games during my teen years that just hit the perfect spot, now with work i find myself struggling to find anything that will last longer than 2 weeks (while playng 3-4h a day)
For real. That just happens as you get older and sort of forces you to be more picky with your time. You'll still find the occasional gem just not as often.
If I see one more indie "cozy game" that shows up about 10 percent finished in Early Access and "lets the community participate in development", leading to the masses pressuring the devs into making an uninspired Stardew Valley/Animal Crossing/Minecraft clone that adds absolutely nothing new to the genre, I'm going to scream.
Indie devs are getting as bad as the AAA industry with this copy-pasted garbage.
I definitely feel that. Devs need a clear vision and roadmap from the start or else the community will just force them to make a copy of something else with no real value.
Completely agree! Keep up the videos, you have a knack for speaking lol
Glad you enjoyed it! I'll try to keep em coming when I have the time lol.
The isle Is a game that is in early access since 2015
That's insane. Like at some point you just have to release the game and give free updates or something.
this one needs more views.
if your game is expected to be played by the public, and older than a year, then it should NOT be called ''EARLY'' access, its just exploiting peoples nostalgia of when they bought early-access titles to see how rough around the edges games can be, and the freedom they had in them,
It's better for a developer to spend 6 months on a game and get nuked with a bad reputation than spend 2 years and get nuked with a bad reputation anyway. That's the whole point. It's not a bad thing, it's the point of doing it in the first place, that and to get money earlier to help fund development and/or guide development.
Here's your validation ya filthy animal! Also, everything you've said is 100% spot on. I'm here because I'm playing sons of the forest and I'm so damn pissed off at "early access" being an excuse for everything that is wrong with it. What about tall the hype they created and videos they released. Screw developers that do this and also Steam that let's lazy developers exploit the EA system so easily. Btw, I've also had Baldurs Gate 3 sitting in my library for over a year just gathering dust until now too, till it was finally released in full.
Thanks for the validation. I didn't even finish the EA of SotF which is kind of a bummer but at least BG3 is finally out in full and is fantastic.
keep the grind up will pay off
Will do! Always on that grind
I don't buy early access anymore
Awesome video as always.
Thanks! I appreciate that.
Milsim games have this issue to the extreme. I can't think of a modern milsim that isn't early access right now.
RoN and Tarkov are incredibly fun games with a good amount of content. Why the hell are they still considered Early Access?
For real. Some games like Fortnite are in "early access" wayyy beyond the point they should be as they are pretty much finished games. They may keep that label to explain some missing features or bugs.
People working in Q.A. are GETTING paid for testing. So why should I PAY to be a beta tester? Makes no sense to me.
I highly disagree with your remove rewiews summary box. Time is sopmething I can't afford to waste and worthless things and this box saved me quite a lot of time in a lot of cases. Exxcept that part you're pretty much thinking the same as me
Early Access is especially detrimental to games that put their entire story front and center, or drip feed it to you. My Time at Sandrock is just one example for me personally, played the shit out of it in EA, but now the full release is out and... I dont care. I've had my fun with the game, I got burnt out. I've done all I wanted to do. This is why I stayed far, far away from BG3 in Early Access, bc the same thing would happen.
Nice video!
ty ty!
Just go back to demos that actually work
Subbed! Good video, I liked the points, you have a great channel name and I definitely wanna see more from you
That being said, please. . PLEASE fix your audio. I know very little about audio stuff, but your voice was peaking really high. You have a wonderful voice, and I really dont want this to come across as hate, just--aaaahh. It sometimes is quite loud, like at 3:34 you say "obvious" and the first syllable is VERY LOUD. Afaik I think this is just a setting or filter on a mic somewhere? It would help a lot!!
I really liked the video though, please keep it up whenever you get the chance :>
Thanks! Yes, I really do need to figure out better audio so hopefully I'll figure it out in the next one. Or maybe I'll just talk more softly lol
buy early access games? I don't even know how to do that and I don't wanna wait until 2026 for it to release
2026 if you are lucky.
@@talkgamingtome 😭
the only reason ea still exists is a broken steam filters, that can't hide this trash
hey man i wanted to stop watching around 2:05 just because u were being negative. dont worry about the engagement. try and produce good content.
Will take that to heart.