fyrilsol@kbin.melroy.org 4 days ago
Early Access works when you have a clear and concise roadmap in where you want a game to go.
It becomes a grifting operation when you have a game that has no direction. 7 Days to Die comes to mind. That game spent so many years in early access, I don't think it even left alpha stages. The developers basically went "yeaaaaaahhhh it's been a while, we got their money, so we're gonna release it". I truly don't think the developers really knew what to do with that game because every update they made, they'd take away something that was a good idea, next update, re-tool it, next update, fuck with something else.
MBech@feddit.dk 4 days ago
While 7 days was tumultous at best, they’ve reached a pretty good point by now.
I do agree with you though, that having a proper direction and being clear about that direction to your fanbase makes for a much better early access period.
Like The Culling which completely ruined their own game because the devs thought they should move in one direction, but their fans and players thought the plan was completely different, having bought the game with a completely different direction in mind.
In the end though, having played quite a few good early access games, releasing a game in early access by Larian is fucking cheap. They have plenty money to make a full release without the early access injection. I see no reason why a succesfull studio like them would need it. Early access is fine for smaller devs. For some it could mean the difference between a hobby project and a full time job.