How does STEAM monitor Early Access Games?

[Red-_-Monkey]

I bought 'Ready Or Not' recently and it seems it's been in early access since 2021. It has biweekly newsletters and frequent dev updates but actual game updates/patches are insanely rare.
It's an amazing game. It has 100k positive reviews which alone shows it made a lot of money.

BUT at what point does STEAM say, "Hey there, when is this game going to progress? Can you provide evidence that it's being worked on? Will this game EVER be out of early access and when?"
The game has no doubt reached its quota and beyond. Who's to say the studio hasn't already deep-sixed the game? How does STEAM protect its customers from buying into an early access that will forever be early access and unfinished?

The fine print is clear, the game may never be finished but it still doesn't clear up any idea if the studio has any intention of finishing the game, which I think STEAM should always investigate if there is any doubt. Send Gman over there and see what's going on.

[Wolf Knight]

there is no time limit for EA, it is up to that games developer to decide when they are at full release.

they provided protection already with the warning on all EA games. if people refuse to read and understand the warning, there is little anyone can do for them.

[invision2212]

It’s not a steam issue. It’s up to the game developers to finish their own games.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

You are even told in the blue banner to only purchase it if you wish to play it in its current state, because it may or may not be finished.


"Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more."

That banner is on every early access game page on the Steam store.


EDIT
So if you know that you are told that the game may or may never be finished, what is the issue? You are warned before you even purchase any early access game.

[Red-_-Monkey]

But doesn't EA insinuate that it will be finished eventually? How can it be EA forever?

[Chompman]

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

But doesn't EA insinuate that it will be finished eventually? How can it be EA forever?

There is no guarantee it will be finished as it could stop support at any time and this is a risk you take at this point buying them.

[Red-_-Monkey]

Originally posted by Chompman:

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

But doesn't EA insinuate that it will be finished eventually? How can it be EA forever?

There is no guarantee it will be finished as it could stop support at any time and this is a risk you take at this point buying them.

So they don't have to declare they've stopped support? That seems like a big issue to me.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

You're reading things that aren't there. They don't insinuate anything.

Go look at some of the early access games. 7 Days To Die has been in early access since 2013. Another game called Super Indie Karts has been in early access since 2015. I'm sure there are others as well.


https://store.steampowered.com/app/251570/7_Days_to_Die/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/323670/Super_Indie_Karts/

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

Originally posted by Chompman:

There is no guarantee it will be finished as it could stop support at any time and this is a risk you take at this point buying them.

So they don't have to declare they've stopped support? That seems like a big issue to me.

Which part of it may or may not be finished are you not understanding? That's what it may or may not change means. If you had an issue with it, you shouldn't have bought the game.

[Red-_-Monkey]

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

So they don't have to declare they've stopped support? That seems like a big issue to me.

Which part of it may or may not be finished are you not understanding? That's what it may or may not change means. If you had an issue with it, you shouldn't have bought the game.

Just seems fraudulent to me. I've made it clear that I understand. I simply disagree with the entire premise. I was wondering about how much influence STEAM has over these EA games.

I love the game, it's great. You deaf?

You can release products stating, "This may give you cancer" but it's still sold and people still buy. Doesn't mean it's right.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

But doesn't EA insinuate that it will be finished eventually? How can it be EA forever?

Eventually..is a very loose time frame.
I mean as long as it happens before th heat death of the universe...

Game development takes time... dn4e took over a decade and beyond good and evil 2 has already beat dn4e's record.

[Red-_-Monkey]

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

You're reading things that aren't there. They don't insinuate anything.

Go look at some of the early access games. 7 Days To Die has been in early access since 2013. Another game called Super Indie Karts has been in early access since 2015. I'm sure there are others as well.


https://store.steampowered.com/app/251570/7_Days_to_Die/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/323670/Super_Indie_Karts/

So it's a steam sanctioned con. What a grift. So much for STEAM being the good guys.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originally posted by Red-_-Monkey:

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

Which part of it may or may not be finished are you not understanding? That's what it may or may not change means. If you had an issue with it, you shouldn't have bought the game.

Just seems fraudulent to me. I've made it clear that I understand. I simply disagree with the entire premise. I was wondering about how much influence STEAM has over these EA games.

I love the game, it's great. You deaf?

You can release products stating, "This may give you cancer" but it's still sold and people still buy. Doesn't mean it's right.

Hardly fraudulent, when they tell you not to purchase the game unless you are excited to play it in its current state. You assuming that the game will be finished even though they tell you it may or may not be, is your fault.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

And there's hardly no point calling people deaf when you're not even reading the early access banner on the store page.

A con? Please point out where you were forced to buy the game?

That's exactly why they tell you the game may or may not change.

Also as far as the good old days, early access on Steam was introduced one year after you've created your account.

[Wayward]

From each Early Access game page:

The game is in early access
Buy the game and start playing - take part in its development
Note: This Early Access game is under development. It may change in the future, or it may remain in its current state, so if you don't like what the game has to offer now, we recommend waiting for its further development. To learn more...

Hmm...where does the problem lie when there's sufficient warning? Don't impulsively make the purchase if you can't throw money away. Take it slowly and read when you've been cautioned about something.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

You're also forgetting that this varies with each game. It may or may not be finished. If you buy a game that doesn't get finished, that's the risk you take..

7 Days To Die is still getting updates and yet it is still an alpha. That's not even a beta yet.