With the advent of digital games and independent development, the video game industry has given birth to a new method of early marketing, the famous “early access”. This seemingly positive method – allowing players to discover the title more quickly and developers to secure additional funds during development – has a rather bad reputation. Project failures are numerous, and some notorious examples dissuade many consumers from buying this type of game before their release.
Although there are measures to avoid the pitfalls set by certain early access titles, the risks still exist. By nature, early access campaigns are real gambles. Historically, players have witnessed great successes or terrible disasters. This weekend, for example, Palworld sold over 4 million copies in just three days. Despite this dazzling launch and the praise from players, nothing can guarantee the future of the title. Especially since the previous project from the same studio, Craftopia, is now abandoned. Despite these uncertainties, it must be admitted that early access is an important model, going beyond the simple duality of "success or failure".
A model that reveals disasters?
Players tend to see the glass half full, and they are right. The few betrayals of certain studios have marked them, so much so that examples of failures are the first to come to mind. Recently, The Day Before quickly established itself as a textbook case. A blatant lack of communication and honesty, as well as a slew of misleading trailers, have ended up leading hordes of players straight into the trap. Sometimes, all the “red flags” in the world are not enough to appease the gamers’ hype. To great scandal, great means, and all buyers were able to enjoy a full refund. Unfortunately, these favors are only granted in such extreme cases.
As a general rule, players must respect certain conditions to hope to receive a refund for a game. On Steam, for example, it is a question of not exceeding two hours of play and of making the request within 14 days of purchase. However, it is possible to consume an early access without too much risk, provided you know these refund rules. By treating an early access title as a short demo, the two hours of play will often be enough to sniff out projects that smell like disaster. Escape is the watchword, even if it means trying the experiment again a few updates later. Although it is certain that this model is not suitable for everyone, its advantages should not be overlooked: the most curious players discover the title as quickly as possible, while the most motivated can actively participate in the development of the title thanks to their valuable feedback.
Development in collaboration with the community
It is indeed worth remembering that the early access method was not designed as a trap for gullible players. It is first and foremost an ideal way to integrate the community into the process of developing a game. Like alpha, beta and other online game tests, early access allows you to discover a title at different stages of its development. However, this “trial” is not free, and generally comes at the high price that the game will display once finished. It is this same economic dimension that is a source of risks and criticism. But when early access goes well and with respect, it’s a real boon, for players and developers alike.
These titles that reach the end of their early access are generally acclaimed by communities, then quickly considered as “gems”. And there is a good reason for this. A game leaving its early access has benefited from several months or years of development during which players were able to offer suggestions. Thus, such a product is more likely to tick all the boxes of the most demanding players. In recent months, nice surprises such as Baldur’s Gate III, Lethal Company or Coral Island have certainly proven that early access can bear fruit, rather twice than once. If the era of dematerialized games does not only have good things, early access is a tool that would be a shame to deprive oneself of. By strengthening the links between developers and the community, games become all the more interesting to consume as an interactive cultural product.
A way to revolutionize video games
In addition to its ability to offer titles of incomparable quality in the event of success, early access is also a small revolution for the video game industry. It is important to remember that this model is a gateway for many independent developers, then able to finance their project thanks to the support of players. It is in particular an effective complement following a crowdfunding campaign, whether it was successful or not. Attributing the explosion of independent games to the democratization of early access is far from being a crazy idea. In the right hands, this method allows more people to get involved in the adventure and offers greater equality of opportunity within the industry.
Unfortunately, this same nature is at the root of many abuses by developers with bad intentions and determined to take advantage of the system to the detriment of players. The fact remains that if early access requires constant vigilance, it undoubtedly appears to be a positive development for the industry and its functioning. It is not because this model is sometimes a source of failure that it must be repealed at all costs. Bad games do not only come from this model: the few notable scandals only reinforce this stereotype.
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