'AAA publishers are abusing early access,' Denis Dyack says, and that's making things harder for everyone else
Dyack believes that games like Subnautica 2 are "skewing player expectations" for early access games.
Denis Dyack, a former game developer known for Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, claims big game publishers are abusing early access. He argues that these developers use early access as a marketing tool to promote already finished, highly polished games. This practice has altered player expectations for early access, making it harder for indie developers who rely on the process to complete and launch their games.
Early access should be a collaborative development process based on player feedback, but instead, AAA publishers are skewing these expectations, disadvantaging smaller independent developers. Games like Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile are shifting player expectations, creating significant barriers for less polished games like Dyack's current project, Deadhaus Sonata.
The current early access landscape is more diverse and confusing, making it tough to set meaningful expectations for the process. Dyack and another developer advise that developers ensure the game runs well, pay attention to Steam reviews, and connect with influencers to gain visibility.
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