The Hidden Dangers of Early Access Gaming: What You Need to Know Before Buying

Ever wondered why your favourite early access game suddenly stops getting updates or starts crashing more than a rickety old car? The truth is, being a beta tester can be a rollercoaster ride filled with both excitement and frustration.
Let's dive into the world of early access and explore the hidden dangers.

Paying to Be a Beta Tester

• Broken Saves: Major updates in early access games can frequently render your progress obsolete, forcing you to start from scratch.
• Unstable Gameplay: Early access games often suffer from performance issues, glitches, and bugs that can significantly impact the playing experience.
• Cheaters and Exploiters: Online multiplayer games in early access can be plagued by cheaters who exploit vulnerabilities in the game's systems.
• Lack of Support: Early access games may not have the same level of customer support as fully released titles, leaving players to fend for themselves when encountering issues.
• Non-Existent Customer Support

Game: Eternal Return, a battle royale MOBA.

• Problem: The game experienced multiple issues during early access: Game loading failures after updates. Broken matchmaking algorithm on NA servers.
• Customer Support Response: Emails were dismissed with curt replies. No resolution was provided for the issues.
• Lesson Learned: Paying for early access doesn't guarantee quality support. Future purchases will be made with caution.

Broken Promises

• Initial Promise: Battle Bit Remastered initially offered the exciting prospect of large-scale FPS battles with hundreds of players on a single map, reminiscent of the Battlefield series. Its low-poly aesthetic and emphasis on fun made it a promising early access title.
• Waning Enthusiasm: Over time, player enthusiasm has dwindled due to several factors:
• Changed Gunplay: Patches have altered the gunplay mechanics, potentially improving balance but negatively impacting the overall gameplay experience.
•  Unfulfilled Promises: Promises of new features have not been realized, attributed to issues with the source code.
•  Lack of Updates: The game has not received an update in over eight months.
• Early Access Risks: While changes in direction and delays can sometimes benefit a game's long-term development, early access purchases involve inherent risks.

Beta Burnout

Beta burnout is a common issue among early access players.
•    Valheim, a Viking-inspired crafting game, was a personal experience of this.
•    The initial excitement and passion for the game eventually dwindled.

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Playing games too much in their early stages can negatively impact future enjoyment.
•    This can lead to burnout and a loss of interest.

Early access games often require significant player input to improve.
•    This can be time-consuming and demanding.

Consider the potential for changes and updates before investing heavily in an early access game.
•    The final product may differ significantly from the early access version.

Balance early access gaming with other activities to prevent burnout.
•    Take breaks and explore other games or hobbies.

Waiting With No End in Sight

• Abandonment Issues: Holding onto early access games can be a risky proposition, especially for those with abandonment issues.
• Project Zomboid Experience: Despite its potential, Project Zomboid's slow development cycle and prolonged time in early access has left many players feeling disappointed.
• The "Finished" Game Illusion: The allure of playing a game in its complete form can be misleading, as many early access titles may never reach a final release.
• Rimworld Exception: While Rimworld has been a successful early access story, it's not representative of all early access games.
• Cautionary Advice: Future purchases of early access games should be approached with caution, and players may want to wait for a finished product before investing.