Shurenai replied to Is this going to be another eternal Early access game? February 4, 2022 @ 12:50:25 pm PST
Why do people have this perpetual impression that staying in early access is 'milking' early access?
You're joking, right? Many people actively avoid purchasing early access games. Many EA games also sell for a lower price during EA than what they will at full release. There is not some recurring pay model where you're giving the developers $10 a month to keep playing the EA game- It's a one time purchase. By the time a game has been in EA for a couple years, the majority of sales that will happen before official release has happened.
So any game that is still in early access after numerous years is doing so to keep their promise to make the game they envisioned at the start. Using 7DTD as an example, they're likely breaking even with incoming profit; And more likely actually a bit in the red in that regard- Spending more than they're making. They have the capital at this point to continue development. But they're not making bank like you seem to think. They're not 'milking' it.
But I suppose you'd rather these games have called themselves released 6 years ago, and have all the updates since be paid DLC? Is that what you want? 'Cause thats what AAA companies do to you. They release a game, and then they nickle and dime you with numerous DLC. Sims 3 and 4, Anyone?
Or you'd rather them be like Empyrion? Call the game released despite not actually being done developing the core of the game. Features listed on the store in a 'coming soon' or 'proof of concept' state despite being officially released? Them LITERALLY selling you an incomplete product as a finished one? I bet thats what you really want from an official full release..
Don't get me wrong. There have absolutely been companies that 'Milked' early access by releasing a hot mess, doing a couple half-hearted updates, getting a couple million sales and then just cutting and running with the money and leaving the game unfinished and untouched forever more.
But, Any developer that is still actively developing the game 5+ years down the line is not doing so to milk it.
You're joking, right? Many people actively avoid purchasing early access games. Many EA games also sell for a lower price during EA than what they will at full release. There is not some recurring pay model where you're giving the developers $10 a month to keep playing the EA game- It's a one time purchase. By the time a game has been in EA for a couple years, the majority of sales that will happen before official release has happened.
So any game that is still in early access after numerous years is doing so to keep their promise to make the game they envisioned at the start. Using 7DTD as an example, they're likely breaking even with incoming profit; And more likely actually a bit in the red in that regard- Spending more than they're making. They have the capital at this point to continue development. But they're not making bank like you seem to think. They're not 'milking' it.
But I suppose you'd rather these games have called themselves released 6 years ago, and have all the updates since be paid DLC? Is that what you want? 'Cause thats what AAA companies do to you. They release a game, and then they nickle and dime you with numerous DLC. Sims 3 and 4, Anyone?
Or you'd rather them be like Empyrion? Call the game released despite not actually being done developing the core of the game. Features listed on the store in a 'coming soon' or 'proof of concept' state despite being officially released? Them LITERALLY selling you an incomplete product as a finished one? I bet thats what you really want from an official full release..
Don't get me wrong. There have absolutely been companies that 'Milked' early access by releasing a hot mess, doing a couple half-hearted updates, getting a couple million sales and then just cutting and running with the money and leaving the game unfinished and untouched forever more.
But, Any developer that is still actively developing the game 5+ years down the line is not doing so to milk it.
9:13 pm, February 4, 2022