Early access, also called alpha access, alpha founding, paid alpha, or game preview, is a way for video game companies to get money. Players can try the game during early stages of development, such as pre-alpha, alpha, and beta. Developers use the money from players to keep working on the game. People who pay to join often help find and fix problems, give ideas, and might get special items in the game. This method is often used by independent game creators to get money. It can also be used with other ways to get money, like crowdfunding. Some crowdfunding projects promise to let people try early versions of the game, but they might not have a playable game yet. In contrast, all early access games give players a playable version of the unfinished game right away.
History
Traditionally, game publishers do not share unfinished versions of their games with the public. Instead, they test their games internally and use secret agreements to keep information private. This helps stop piracy and limits how much competitors can learn about the game. Publishers usually pay for a game to be fully developed before it is released, but they are less likely to support games that are very different or risky. In some cases, publishers let players try a game's early version if they pay or win a chance to do so. For example, a special invitation to test part of the game Halo 3 was included with another game called Crackdown, which helped Crackdown sell more copies.
Indie games, which are often made without a publisher, have more difficulty finding money to develop their games. Smaller indie companies may use their own money, while larger ones might get money from investors or crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Patreon. Another challenge for indie developers is testing their games before release, as they do not have the resources of a publisher and may not get enough feedback from players.
The idea of early access helps solve these problems. Early access means players can buy and play a game while it is still being developed, even if it is not finished or has some problems. These games are often in early or test versions and may take months or years to complete. Players who buy into early access can test the game and give feedback to the developer, helping improve the game's design, artwork, and features. After the game is finished, players may keep playing it or receive the final version along with extras like special sounds or credit in the game. These players help fund the game's development, but they also take a risk that the game might not be completed. Early access can also help a game gain attention through word-of-mouth, as players are not limited by secret agreements and can share their experiences online or on streaming platforms.
One of the most famous examples of early access is the game Minecraft. It started in 2009, created by Markus Persson while he worked a full-time job. The early version of the game became popular quickly, so Persson added a way for players to pay 10 euros (about $15) to access the game, which helped him continue development. As more people bought the game, he was able to leave his job and form a company called Mojang to work on the game full-time with a bigger team. Minecraft offered early access throughout its development, promising players the final version for free. This happened in November 2011, after about 2 million players had bought early versions, raising over $33 million. Minecraft's success made early access a common way for indie games to be developed and released.
Approach
Some digital stores help developers share their games with players before they are fully finished. These stores take a small part of the sales but help with difficult tasks like handling payments through credit cards or PayPal, managing internet data for game downloads, giving players access to game keys, promoting games on their sites, and solving other problems. In 2011, a store called Desura started a program to help independent developers share upcoming games with players. In 2013, Valve added an early access option to Steam, letting developers use Steam's tools. In 2016, GOG.com began a similar program called "Games in Development," which allowed players to buy games while they were still being made. GOG also let players return games within 14 days without questions, which helps reduce the risk for buyers. In 2016, itch.io started a program called Refinery, which gave developers choices about how to share their games, such as limited access for a few players or invite-only testing.
Humble Bundle created a store that helps indie developers sell early access games. This store also lets developers provide Steam keys once their games are available on Steam, and players can pay extra to support the developers.
Video game console companies have also started programs similar to early access. In 2014, Sony said it might create an early access program for PlayStation 4 games, and it launched one in 2015 with the game Dungeon Defenders II. In 2015, Microsoft started the Xbox Game Preview program, which let players test games before they were fully released. This program included free demos of games like The Long Dark and Elite Dangerous. Google also started an early access program for Android games in 2016.
Most early access games are made by independent developers, but some large game companies have used early access too. For example, Codemasters used Steam's early access program to test Dirt Rally before deciding to fully develop it. Ubisoft used early access to improve Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms after its main development was done.
Early access is sometimes connected to other ways of getting money for games. Games that use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter often give early access to people who support the project and later let others buy the early version too. However, the term "early access" is sometimes used in a negative way to describe games that are released as if they are finished but still need many updates or fixes. Games like No Man's Sky, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Sea of Thieves have been called "early access" by critics even though they were not meant to be.
For free-to-play games that earn money through in-game purchases, developers often offer a "founders" package. This package gives players early access to the game and special items that can be used later. Players who buy this package keep their progress even after the game leaves early access. Games like Paragon, Dauntless, and Fortnite: Save the World have used this approach.
In the late 2010s, major game companies began using "early access" to describe special deals for pre-ordering games. These deals let players access the game a few days before others, but they are not used to get player feedback. Instead, they help find last-minute bugs or test servers. The term "early access" has also been used negatively to describe large games released with many problems, even if the developers intended to fix them later.
The Steam Early Access program, managed by Valve, uses Steam's tools to sell and share games. It started on March 20, 2013, with 12 games. Before releasing games, developers get feedback from players who buy early access. Valve planned to add games from its Steam Greenlight program to Steam Early Access.
Notable games using early access
In addition to Minecraft, the following is a partial list of games that have been considered successful uses of the early access approach:
Some examples of unfinished games using the early access approach include Earth: Year 2066. This game was released on Steam's early access with many promised features. However, players found many technical problems that made the game unplayable. The game did not meet the promises listed on its product page and used assets from a commercial game engine. Many users, including James Stephanie Sterling of The Escapist, criticized the developer, Killing Day Studios, for misusing the early access program. Valve, the company that runs Steam, removed the game and refunded money to buyers. Valve stated that while developers can set prices and promote their games, they must be honest in their marketing.
Another example is Spacebase DF-9. The development team at Double Fine planned to add features and improve gameplay over time. However, the company ended full-time development, completed its early access phase, and released a final version of the game. While the game was fully playable, it lacked many planned features. The company will continue to fix major bugs and support user modifications through Steam's Workshop, but it will not add new content. This decision disappointed many players who had expected the planned features. Shortly after the release of the final version, twelve employees, including the programmer and project lead JP LeBreton, were laid off. Later, Double Fine announced no further updates or patches for the game, leaving Steam Workshop integration without a clear plan. Tim Schafer, a leader at Double Fine, explained that the game's early access sales did not cover production costs, and completing the planned goals would have taken several years.
Second Extinction, a first-person shooter developed by Systemic Reaction, was released in early access in October 2020. The game was planned to stay in early access until October 2022, when it was scheduled for a full release. After many delays, the company canceled the full release in October 2023 and announced that early access servers would shut down in 2024, making the game unplayable.
The sandbox game Ashes of Creation was developed by Intrepid Studios starting in 2016. It raised over $3.25 million through a Kickstarter campaign in June 2017, making it one of the most successful campaigns on the platform. On January 22, 2026, one month after the game was released to Steam's early access, lead developer Steven Sharif addressed rumors of layoffs, stating that nine of 250 employees were affected by "targeted team adjustments." He assured players that the layoffs did not reflect the game's future. Sharif later resigned on January 31, citing a conflict between creative leaders and the studio's board of directors. After Sharif's resignation, Intrepid Studios laid off all employees and canceled Ashes of Creation, removing it from sale on Steam. An investor later claimed the studio had $140 million in debt. Some employees also filed lawsuits against Intrepid, alleging violations of the WARN Act, which requires companies to provide advance notice before layoffs.
Reception
Video game critics often avoid giving final, scored reviews to games in early access. Instead, they provide temporary comments about the game. Polygon says critics should give feedback on any product sold to consumers, but early access games are still works in progress and are treated differently. Eurogamer now only gives official reviews to games after they are fully released, though they may share first impressions of games still in early access.
Games in early access are usually not considered for major industry awards because they are not yet officially published or fully reviewed. However, in 2017, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds was nominated for awards, including Game of the Year, even though it had not yet officially left early access. Gamasutra noted that early access, especially Steam's approach, was one of the key trends shaping the video game industry in 2013.
The early access model has faced criticism. Ben Kurchera of Polygon said the model treats unfinished games as a business strategy. Buyers of early access games receive incomplete versions to test and provide feedback, but there is a risk the game may never be completed or may be of poor quality. A 2014 study found that only 25% of Steam Early Access games reached a final release. Sergey Galyonkin, creator of the Steam Spy tool, noted that early access games typically see only one major sales increase—when they are first released on Steam—rather than a second boost after leaving early access.
A concern is how long games stay in early access. Most successful games remain in early access for about one year before a full release. Some, like Kerbal Space Program and DayZ, stay in early access for multiple years. Others, such as Star Citizen, remain in early access indefinitely. Consumers may not know when or if the early access period will end.
By 2014, early access had a negative reputation due to failures like Spacebase DF-9. Critics pointed out that early access games lack the quality guarantees of completed titles and that Steam did not always check or test games to ensure they matched their descriptions. Some players worry about the "double dip" effect, where a game is promoted twice: once during early access and again at its full release. In 2014, Valve updated its early access rules, requiring games to be playable and have clear plans for completion. Since then, early access has become more accepted as developers create stable, near-finished games and gradually release updates based on player feedback.
Some games have used early access successfully by providing near-complete products with regular updates and direct communication with players. Games with roguelike features, such as Invisible, Inc., Nuclear Throne, and Darkest Dungeon, are well-suited for early access because developers can adjust game systems using player feedback. Early access games that gain popularity through streaming channels also benefit, as developers receive feedback from streamers and their audiences. Examples include Hades, Slay the Spire, and Risk of Rain 2.