Steam Early Access Games: Valve cautions gamers

As spotted by Eurogamer, Valve has updated its Steam Early Access Games FAQ to better inform customers on the programme.

Early Access Games allow customers to buy into and access a product while it is still in the alpha or beta development stage. Early Access is typically sold at a discount on the planned launch price, and allows gamers to get involved in testing and shaping a gaming experience they are particularly interested in.

Of course, being under development these games likely have major game-breaking bugs and balancing problems, and large chunks may be scrapped or reworked entirely before the final product is launched.

Issues have arisen in the past with customers being unhappy with the Early Access quality and experience of the game they bought, and so this FAQ might go some way toward mitigating the negative effects and managing expectations.

As Valve puts it:

We like to think of games and game development as services that grow and evolve with the involvement of customers and the community. There have been a number of prominent titles that have embraced this model of development recently and found a lot of value in the process. We like to support and encourage developers who want to ship early, involve customers, and build lasting relationships that help everyone make better games.

Valve posted some points to consider before making an Early Access purchase:

What is the game like to play right now?

When you buy an Early Access game, you should consider what the game is like to play right now. Look at the screenshots and videos to see what the game looks like in its current state. There are a lot of ways a game can go as it develops over time, so if you aren’t excited to play the game in its current state, then hold off and wait until the next update – it shouldn’t be far off.

How often is this game getting updated?

Take a look at the recent update announcements from the developer (shown on the store page for that game) to get a sense of how active the developer is. Does it look like that game is getting updated a lot? Are they valuable and interesting updates?

Pricing of individual games may change over time

Some developers will start by offering a discount for buying early while others will charge a premium, depending on their goals and the level of commitment and feedback they desire from Early Access customers.

Finally, Valve tempers expectations on the final product and the immediate playable product:

Its up to the developer to determine when they are ready to ‘release’. Some developers have a concrete deadline in mind, while others will get a better sense as the development of the game progresses. You should be aware that some teams will be unable to ‘finish’ their game. So you should only buy an Early Access game if you are excited about playing it in its current state.

Have you bought into an Early Access Game on Steam? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments and forum.