Do some devs abuse the early access system to basically avoid testing their own game whatsoever? Absolutely.
Do some smaller devs or solo devs use early access as a way to fund continued development because they can’t afford the finish the game first and then start selling it? Also yes.
I find that most early access games I have bought into tend to get finished eventually. It’s not perfect but I have found some great games that I really love through early access and it’s been fun to play them at varying states of completion.
I do think most gamers should just wait until a full release but some people actually enjoy playing slightly jank buggy games and giving feedback to smaller devs.
My philosophy is “do I think the game in this current state is worth the price now?” If so, buy it and you get free updates to an already good game. Otherwise, add it to a wishlist and check back in a year.
I’m a little more wreckless with my spending. Sometimes I let my hopes and dreams make purchasing decisions for me… So far I have only been stung a few times. Battlefield 2042 was the worst one. I really thought it was going to be like the good ol days of bad company 2 and it so was not at all.
I’m tentatively excited for the next one again (I know I’m just being hopeful one of my favorite series isn’t dead) but I will not be giging them a penny until I see some gameplay and some reviews from people I trust on the battlefield games.
Yes and no.
Do some devs abuse the early access system to basically avoid testing their own game whatsoever? Absolutely.
Do some smaller devs or solo devs use early access as a way to fund continued development because they can’t afford the finish the game first and then start selling it? Also yes.
I find that most early access games I have bought into tend to get finished eventually. It’s not perfect but I have found some great games that I really love through early access and it’s been fun to play them at varying states of completion.
I do think most gamers should just wait until a full release but some people actually enjoy playing slightly jank buggy games and giving feedback to smaller devs.
Edit: spelling
My philosophy is “do I think the game in this current state is worth the price now?” If so, buy it and you get free updates to an already good game. Otherwise, add it to a wishlist and check back in a year.
I’m a little more wreckless with my spending. Sometimes I let my hopes and dreams make purchasing decisions for me… So far I have only been stung a few times. Battlefield 2042 was the worst one. I really thought it was going to be like the good ol days of bad company 2 and it so was not at all.
I’m tentatively excited for the next one again (I know I’m just being hopeful one of my favorite series isn’t dead) but I will not be giging them a penny until I see some gameplay and some reviews from people I trust on the battlefield games.
We all gotta learn somehow. Mine was Brink from back in the day.
I mean in your defense brink looked so damn cool.