The Early Access concept in the gaming industry has been quite a revelation. It allows developers to gather funding from gamers eager to support the development process while also providing regular feedback. This has allowed many games to turn from potential disasters into outright hits. However, on the flip side, there are also multiple Early Access titles that amounted to nothing, with players left holding the can. And now, Steam is taking concrete action.
While it may not have been an official announcement, Steam has implemented a new system that will now flag Early Access titles that have been abandoned. The definition of this is going without any new updates for at least 12 months.
This is most easily seen when trying to purchase these games via the store. The extra warning will appear to let players know just what they are getting themselves into. A note from Steam will indicate the last time the developer has updated the game. More warnings come in additional notes on the game’s store page, stating that information may no longer be accurate, including any proposed development timeline.
Considering the sheer number of Early Access titles that charge various prices for players to jump in early, this is nothing but good news. For context, Valve’s digital platform has grown from just seven Early Access games in 2013 to around 2,605 in 2024. Developers and studios who are hard at work, providing regular updates and keeping the community informed, having this qualifier will help them stand out from the crowd.
As for projects that are veering towards abandonment, this initiative by Steam will help players better evaluate their choices, and prevent them from wasting their hard-earned cash on something that will not see the light of day anytime soon. Keeping players’ interest at heart is always a good move, and hopefully, other platforms providing such titles will do the same.
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