![dayz standalone beta release date dayz standalone beta release date](https://letsplays.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hitman-1024x576.jpg)
Keep in mind you’re charging a discounted price during Early Access but you’ll be asking full price at launch. If you have a rocky pre-release launch, you aren’t able to address community feedback, or business concerns slow development, you run the very real risk of players ignoring your game. Going with Early Access also runs the risk of stealing momentum from your official release. It isn’t easy to fix a bad reputation after years of ignoring community feedback. Worse still, unresponsive developers during Early Access can lead to a complete loss of trust. They’re doing your dirty work by testing the game and it’s your job to fix bugs as they arise, otherwise the public will start to lose interest. While you might be months or years away from official release, remember your Early Access customers still expect updates and bug fixes. If you don’t separate your game from the rest, people may subconsciously label your game as just another cash grab. Many players see the platform as a haven for these throwaway titles. A lot of shovelware and low-quality asset flips dominate Early Access from time to time. Unfortunately, Early Access has its own reputation, and if you choose to release here first, some of that reputation might rub off onto your title. Drawbacks for Developers using Early Access While it’s possible your game might earn as much as DayZ did during Early Access, don’t count on this being your platform to success. There are a few examples of ultra-successful Early Access runs, but they’re exceptions, not the rule. That’s why it’s a good idea to softly launch an alpha or beta build of your game in Early Access first, gather feedback and fix bugs, then use all of the above to prepare for a successful launch. Without any player feedback, testing, or the QA you’d get from an Early Access launch, it’s hard to gauge whether your game will sell successfully. Steam specifically warns against using Early Access solely for generating income. One rocky launch could cause irreparable financial ruin for your game or studio. The Early Access market is extremely volatile and unpredictable.
![dayz standalone beta release date dayz standalone beta release date](https://media.altchar.com/prod/images/620_350/gm-e2b11fe2-d8e6-4d42-8cc9-0ae6528120ed-dayzmapreading.png)
For example, the number of concurrent players and Twitch viewers skyrocketed when Besiege released after 5 years in Early Access. Steam users are likely to wishlist your game even if they don’t buy it outright, which adds to the potential pool of customers once you release.Įven if your game stays in Early Access for long periods of time it can still benefit from accumulated hype. More eyes will be on your game if you take this route, and if there’s something uniquely entertaining about it, word will spread. The marketing potential of releasing on Early Access can’t be ignored, either. At that point I had been working on the game for about 6 years.” I had a bunch of testers buy and play the game and give great feedback that improved the game.
![dayz standalone beta release date dayz standalone beta release date](https://letsplays.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/dayz-1024x565.jpg)
“I see Early Access as just a public beta test, so it’s cool that people are into that. MoonQuest developer Ben Porter shared a few thoughts about his game’s time on Early Access: Developers can collect valuable feedback from Early Access buyers before the game’s final launch, saving the studio both time and money fixing major issues after release. The most obvious advantage of releasing a game on Early Access is the ability to engage in public beta testing. Advantages of Early Access for Developers This creates a sense of ownership and helps turn one-time buyers into lifelong customers. They offer feedback and suggestions the developers often add to the final build. Most players who participate in Early Access purchases develop a sense of ownership from the moment they hit the buy button. They’re also entitled to the final version of the game once it releases. When customers buy an Early Access game they get to play current and all future builds. These aren’t demos or simple pre-orders, they’re unfinished, unpolished, and sometimes buggy alpha and beta versions of a game that’s still a work in progress. What is Early Access?Įarly Access is a program where game developers can release early builds of their titles for the public to purchase.
#Dayz standalone beta release date how to
Below we discuss the pros and cons of releasing games on Early Access along with tips on how to maximize your chances of success if you do put it to use. Others simply aren’t a good fit for pre-release access.Įarly Access is a tricky platform, but there are ways to do it right. Some fail miserably on the platform and their reputations never recover. Not all games are destined for success in Early Access, however. The program is popular with indie and mid-tier developers, but many big-name companies also participate, including EA. Steam’s Early Access program provides a wealth of unfinished, usually cheaper titles available for purchase long before their official release.