Game development is not a linear process. Game dev teams can be made up of one or more people and then there's the skills of each of them to consider, not to mention the size, scale and scope of the game being made.

You cannot make an arbitrary Early Access development timeline for any game, because development behind them is different, issues arise, life happens, etc.

No thanks.

引用自 datCookie：

Game development is not a linear process. Game dev teams can be made up of one or more people and then there's the skills of each of them to consider, not to mention the size, scale and scope of the game being made.

You cannot make an arbitrary Early Access development timeline for any game, because development behind them is different, issues arise, life happens, etc.

No thanks.

There's a huge different between "life happens" and a game being abandoned. Removing the "early access game" title doesn't mean that the developers have to stop updating it or put in monthly updates. They can take a year to update it just don't give them the early access title.

I think I've maybe heard of one game developer (Zachtronics) releasing games into Early Access for less than a year.

Everyone else works on the game until it's done or until it's clear that they cannot finish it.

Hey Gabe, how long did it take to develop Team Fortress 2?

What is an Early Access game?

It does not get any CLEARER than:

"Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it DEVELOPS".

"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".

So the question remains is waiting a problem?

引用自 TunnelSneak：

There's a huge different between "life happens" and a game being abandoned. Removing the "early access game" title doesn't mean that the developers have to stop updating it or put in monthly updates. They can take a year to update it just don't give them the early access title.

When I say "life happens", I don't mean something happens and they're forced to abandon the game. I'm talking about personal events or emergencies that simply delay things further.

The title of "Early Access" is there to warn people that the game they're buying isn't finished and they need to accept the game in its current state, not what future state it might be in. It's the risk we all take. I've bought plenty of Early Access games, several will never see the light of day and others have become highly successful and "finished" projects.

I'm all for forcing abandoned Early Access games off the store, but implementing arbitrary development timelines isn't going to work, nor will forcing developers to change their title from Early Access to... not.

引用自 TunnelSneak：

There's a huge different between "life happens" and a game being abandoned.

Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem were both abandoned. Both AAA games.

引用自 datCookie：

I'm all for forcing abandoned Early Access games off the store,

I'm not.

This is like that "the myth of consent" meme.

The player wants to pay $X to play the game.
The developer is willing to accept $X in exchange for letting the player play the game.

"Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?"

引用自 Ben Lubar：

引用自 datCookie：

I'm all for forcing abandoned Early Access games off the store,

I'm not.

This is like that "the myth of consent" meme.

The player wants to pay $X to play the game.
The developer is willing to accept $X in exchange for letting the player play the game.

"Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?"

I know it's something that isn't supported, hence why I rarely bring it up anymore. It's a moral thing, for me, that's all.

引用自 datCookie：

引用自 Ben Lubar：

I'm not.

This is like that "the myth of consent" meme.

The player wants to pay $X to play the game.
The developer is willing to accept $X in exchange for letting the player play the game.

"Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?"

I know it's something that isn't supported, hence why I rarely bring it up anymore. It's a moral thing, for me, that's all.

Valve already puts a big warning message on the store page for any early access game that hasn't been updated for over 12 months. In my opinion, letting people make informed decisions is far superior to forcing people to make specific choices.

引用自 Ben Lubar：

引用自 datCookie：

I know it's something that isn't supported, hence why I rarely bring it up anymore. It's a moral thing, for me, that's all.

Valve already puts a big warning message on the store page for any early access game that hasn't been updated for over 12 months. In my opinion, letting people make informed decisions is far superior to forcing people to make specific choices.

That's fine, still a moral dilemma to me. One I do not expect to see solved, nor supported by many.

引用自 TunnelSneak：

If a game has been in "early access" with no recent updates there should be an update within the early access message that the game is likely abandoned in giant red lettering or easily visible.

It's almost like they already do that... It's just in yellow not red.

Note: The last update made by the developers was over 3 years ago. The information and timeline described by the developers here may no longer be up to date.

https://psteamproxy.yuanyoumao.com/app/376210/The_Isle/

引用自 TunnelSneak：

I suggest updating or creating a policy for how long a game can be in alpha or the Early Access Game status. If a game has been in "early access" with no recent updates there should be an update within the early access message that the game is likely abandoned in giant red lettering or easily visible.

Time frame Suggestion:
6-8 Months or a maximum of one year.

Examples:
-The Isle was released on 12-1-2015 and as of 11-21-2025 is still in "Early Alpha Status" with the last developer update being 3 years ago as of this posting.
-SCP 5K: The game was released on 2-22-2022 and as of this post was last updated on 5-15-2024

Valve isn't going to manage other developers projects.

No one is forced to buy early access games.

A developer can release a game, 1.0 whenever they want. There is no bar Valve sets concerning this.

Early Access ultimately is just the developer's opinion of the state of their game. There is no point that's not relevant. Schemes to penalize that opinion is foolish nonsense invented by people who don't understand software development or early access. And that's another reason Valve won't do what you imagine. They know better than you and hsve the system they want.

You should stop buying early access games if you can't accept what it is.

Besides abandoned games or bad games aren't a secret. If customers don't want to read reviews or do any checking, what makes you think they'll read anything? People already don't read or understand the blue box.

If you have problem with Early Access games, go to your Store Preferences and under Product types disable "Show Early Access titles". Voila, no more Early Access titles in your store. You won't see them unless and until they are fully released. Problem solved.

https://psteamproxy.yuanyoumao.com/account/preferences/

引用自 TunnelSneak：

I suggest updating or creating a policy for how long a game can be in alpha or the Early Access Game status. If a game has been in "early access" with no recent updates there should be an update within the early access message that the game is likely abandoned in giant red lettering or easily visible.

Time frame Suggestion:
6-8 Months or a maximum of one year.

Even Call of Duty series that are pumped out yearly take more time than that.

Look that will not solve anything. It will make it worse. Because then all you will have are broken games that are released as complete games and then you have no way of knowing that it isn't finished.

引用自 TunnelSneak：

Examples:
-The Isle was released on 12-1-2015 and as of 11-21-2025 is still in "Early Alpha Status" with the last developer update being 3 years ago as of this posting.
-SCP 5K: The game was released on 2-22-2022 and as of this post was last updated on 5-15-2024

How would it solve the issue if they where forced to be put out in a fully released state? That first game still wouldn't get any updates AND it would still be buggy. But now it wouldn't have a warning on it.

Do you not think these developers want to release the game for the full 1.0 release?

引用自 TunnelSneak：

I suggest updating or creating a policy for how long a game can be in alpha or the Early Access Game status. If a game has been in "early access" with no recent updates there should be an update within the early access message that the game is likely abandoned in giant red lettering or easily visible.

Time frame Suggestion:
6-8 Months or a maximum of one year.

Examples:
-The Isle was released on 12-1-2015 and as of 11-21-2025 is still in "Early Alpha Status" with the last developer update being 3 years ago as of this posting.
-SCP 5K: The game was released on 2-22-2022 and as of this post was last updated on 5-15-2024

If you do that, developers that suspended development but still want to sell their game will just perform malicious compliance and release it as 1.0, possibly only changing one byte, just to get rid of the red lettering.

You can disable the display of early access titles in your account settings.