The problem of early access MMORPGs has been something we’ve talked about many times, including here in the Massively Overthinking column. We’ve talked about what we expect vs. what we get, the demise of hard lines between testing and launch, the buzz-killing effect of long pre-launch windows, and even the early access trap that wrecks indies. Those are all valid discussions. But here’s the real simple truth:
I don’t want to play your early access MMO.
I don’t want to test your thing for free. I don’t want to spend my precious free time being your data point. I don’t want this to be the business I donate my charity time to – and definitely not my charity money. I have 100 things I’d rather being doing, including playing finished and launched games. I might make an exception here or here for work or for a studio I already know from experience is trustworthy, but that rule of thumb is just where it begins and ends for me now. I don’t really need to think much harder about it.
Am I alone? Do you still buy and play early access MMOs? What are your parameters for deciding whether to put down your hard-earned money – or give it a hard pass?
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna.bsky.social, blog): I already got my rant out of the way above, so I wanted to talk about my exceptions. Last year, for example, I played Aloft for work (it was fine, just needed lots more content) and Stars Reach for work and curiosity (but I didn’t really put down roots because why would I do this in a test game that gets wiped a lot), and I rather foolishly bought Path of Exile 2 and Titan Quest 2, which I should not have done. The games I actually sank my personal time into? They were launched MMOs, or in one case, a launched MMO that is obviously using the beta tag for cheeseball reasons, so at this point I just ignore the beta protestations anyway.
I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m saying that even when I try or buy one of these early access games, my actual reality shows I don’t want to play them. I go back to established stuff. It’s not just a prescriptive philosophy or a stance; it’s a description of what I actually do (or at least want to do).
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes.bsky.social, blog): Hello, it’s me, I’m the problem. I do appreciate and even look out for early access MMOs.
Now before I have another reason to get lashed by a wet pool noodle by Literally Everyone, I’ll explain a couple of points: First, I consider looking into this sort of thing part of my job here at MOP, if for nothing else than to keep tabs on certain games and maybe protecting others from wasting their time and money. Second, I’ve always had a pretty deep curiosity at how this stuff happens, as well as a now-admittedly grim fascination with watching the whole thing form.
With all of that said, I also do admit that the “minimum” in “minimum viable product” has poisoned the well even for someone like me who likes watching this sort of stuff. It certainly at least feels that most of these games are rushing out to recoup costs while also hoping the early access moniker is a sturdy enough shield to deflect major complaints. And of course, there are those games that are basically soft-launched; I love Skate to death, but it’s a release product, you guys, come on.
Despite all of this internalization and appreciation for the other side of the coin, I’m not really certain that I’m going to stop this bad habit anytime soon. Call it a lack of self-control. Call it rationalization. Call me a drooling idiot or worse. Call me overly curious. But right now? I’m a bit more selective but still intensely interested to follow along.
Justin Olivetti (@Sypster, blog): Mostly I don’t, unless it looks pretty finished and has really strong word-of-mouth. It’s a case-by-case basis, because not everyone uses the “early access” label the same way. But if it’s been in that stage for a while, has a load of great content and updates, and people are treating it as if it’s launched… sure, why not.
Sam Kash (@samkash@mastodon.social): There is little to no chance of my ever buying early into an early access MMO at this point. I did it with Crowfall, and the results seem to indicate it’s a bad model. I still contend that Crowfall did so many things right, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.
I never cared even with Crowfall to play and test. And maybe that’s where it lost me. I just wanted to play the real thing, and the early version was so busted there was no point. I tried but just couldn’t enjoy it like that.
So no, never again, sadly. It’s not to say that I’ve given up on crowdfunding, though. While it seems to be a total bust for MMOs, there are other genres that tend to flourish. Lots of JRPGs I’ve played originated there. And board games are huge in the crowdfunding space.
Tyler Edwards (blog): I’ve always been against early access, and nothing has changed my mind on that.
My only exception to date has been Godsworn, which is an RTS rather than an MMO. It’s clearly a passion project with realistically modest ambitions, and I’d gotten to play a demo and knew I already liked the game. Even then, I’ve played less than ten hours of the early access version. I’m basically treating it as a pre-order; I won’t sink serious time into until it’s finished.
There is also a high likelihood I’ll buy ZeroSpace when it enters early access, for largely the same reasons I gave for Godsworn.
MMOs are so big and expensive to pull off that buying into early access for them feels like gambling at best.
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