Denis Dyack says big publishers use early access as a marketing tool, and that makes it harder for indie teams.
The claim: Dyack says AAA publishers put out polished games in early access, which sets player expectations close to full release and hurts smaller developers who need early access to finish their games.
Examples: He points to Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile as changing players' expectations. His own game, Deadhaus Sonata, is in early access on Steam.
Advice: Dyack admits Apocalypse Studios neglected the basics at its rough launch. Ethan McKinnon says developers should treat early access like a real launch.
Partial agreement: Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos agrees with part of the argument, noting that early access now covers everything from long-term development to near-finished paid betas.
The article's view: The writer isn't convinced by Dyack's argument and thinks the loose definition of "early access" matters more.
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TL;DR of the article, generated automatically.
Denis Dyack says big publishers use early access as a marketing tool, and that makes it harder for indie teams.