What exactly does "Early Access" mean?

[Ihateregistering1]

So I was just on Steam and they have a new game available called "Grim Dawn". I had heard about this game for years and was ultra excited for it. It's an ARPG from the guys who created "Titan Quest", which in my opinion is one of the most underrated Diablo-esque ARPGs created.

Anyway, according to Steam, it is an "early access" game, and they say that the game still has a lot of bugs and no multiplayer. In other words, it seems like a Beta that you have to pay for.

So has anyone here purchased an early access game? Is it sort of like buying half the game, and then you download what is essentially DLC along the way and complete the game as it goes? Or do you buy the full game when it comes out? Steam itself is very short on details.

 

[Racecarlock]

I think it's like a pre-order that grants you access to the alpha, and presumably the updates to the real version will be free.

I don't really know though. I don't have steam, don't plan to get it, and frankly that hasn't impaired my game playing ability on this machine. Do you know how many fantastic freeware and flash games I have found? Shit, some flash games are better and more addictive than some AAA games I have played recently.

But yeah, it's probably some kind of pre-order.

 

[aozgolo]

I have bought several early access games on Steam, it is as you describe a Beta (or sometimes Alpha) build of the game. You are buying the full game and it is updated through Steam but you have access to it now. Really the quality depends LARGELY on the developer. One I play a lot that's in Early Access is called Gnomoria, I've never experienced any game breaking bugs with it though it's only one guy making the whole thing.

Early Access games are usually discounted, so you get the full game plus beta access for cheaper. It honestly never deters me from purchasing a game, and I've never had any problems out of them yet, but it's basically saying "Here you can play our game now before we release it but don't expect it to be 100% bug-free."

I will say MOST developers will have squashed any critical game breaking bugs before their game reaches Early Access.


All those games are full functioning, there may be some features missing, but it's actually kinda nice to be playing Early Access games as you see them consistently getting new updates and you can participate in feature testing, bug fixes, and feedback. Obviously not for everyone, but that's basically all it is.

 

[shrekfan246]

Grim Dawn has been available to backers as an alpha for a while, and from everything I've seen on it it's remarkably solid for being an alpha/beta, with very few bugs and an extremely tight engine that provides satisfying, meaty combat on top of a great, dark aesthetic. The fact that it's finally being offered on Steam hopefully means that it's getting closer and closer to the official release.

Anyway, for the topic at hand, I'm not sure what's so confusing about the "Early Access" concept. It's exactly what it sounds like; You buy a game before the 'actual' release date and get to play it right away. Yes, it's "a beta that you have to pay for", but it's because you're paying for the game and will get the full game free of charge when it actually launches.

 

[Strelok]

Paying to support a game that interests you and helping to test it before it goes live. I am in early access for Space Engineers, Haunted Memories, Betrayer, Sir, You Are Being Hunted, and Kinetic Void. It's like if you contribute to a kick starter and get early alpha access. So yes you will see bugs and they sometimes have a lot of issues, so if you are not willing to do that just wait for the full release. At release you have the full game by the way, who would contribute if you only got access to an alpha and then had to buy the full game later? Didn't really think that one through did ya? XD

 

[Ihateregistering1]

Thanks for the tips, gonna pick it up.

The confusion I had was that Steam doesn't make it clear that by purchasing the Alpha, that you won't have to repurchase the full game when it's released. In other words, I didn't want to pay $26 for the Alpha, and then have to pay $50 for the final game when it is released.

At release you have the full game by the way, who would contribute if you only got access to an alpha and then had to buy the full game later? Didn't really think that one through did ya? XD

No, in fact I made sure to double-check before I bought it, so I very much thought it through.