Early Access
Ongoing coverage on Early Access.
Latest coverage
5 years after we called this Kickstarted MMO 'a giant fiasco' and just 3 months after it finally launched,…
The sandbox MMO DreamWorld, which launched on Steam Early Access in March after a troubled development and Kickstarter campaign, is being shut down. The game, developed by DreamWorld Realities, failed to gain traction, peaking at only 56 concurrent players and receiving mixed reviews. Server-dependent functionality will cease, effectively ending the game's online services.
In your face Nintendo – Palworld’s huge free 1.0 update lands just before Pokémon Pokopia’s paid DLC
Pocketpair's monster-taming survival game Palworld is set to leave Early Access and launch version 1.0 on July 10, featuring new Pals, regions, and a revamped story. This major free update arrives shortly before the paid DLC for Nintendo's Pokémon Pokopia in August, intensifying comparisons between the two titles. Despite a past patent infringement lawsuit, both games are releasing significant content updates close to each other.
SpaceCraft now has a solo offline mode
Shiro Games has released a solo offline mode for their early access space exploration and building game, SpaceCraft, in response to community feedback. This new mode offers separate progression and removes multiplayer-specific systems like Nexus trading, while also introducing improvements such as reduced crafting times and increased extractor speeds for players who prefer a single-player experience.
Project Zeta Global Community Test Adds New Hero Mika Mist
Krafton has launched the first global community test for its upcoming multiplayer tactical arena game, Project Zeta, on PC via Steam. The test, running until June 28, introduces a new hero named Mika Mist, who uses sound waves and neon visual effects as her primary attack. Developed by Nirvanana Studio, Project Zeta is aiming for a global Early Access launch in the latter half of 2026.
Betawatch: Enshrouded and Aion 2 are making big fall launch plans
Enshrouded has announced an October 15th launch date for PC and PlayStation 5, with Xbox Series X|S to follow in 2027. Aion 2 confirmed its monetization plans for a September global launch. The article also provides updates on Camelot Unchained, Corepunk, and numerous other games in various testing phases.
"Baldur's Gate 3 seems to have done it pretty well," but don't expect Obsidian's next story-based RPG to launch in early access, Grounded 2 lead suggests
Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2 director Chris Parker stated that while Baldur's Gate 3's early access success is notable, it's not a model that will work for all story-based RPGs. He believes that for large, complex narrative games, the traditional development approach is more suitable, though he acknowledges exceptions exist and that early access can be beneficial for certain titles like the original Grounded.
Roadmaps and Plans
This article provides updates on various games, including Terraria's State of the Game for June 2026, Star Trek Online's Undiscovered expansion, and Din's Champion entering its 21st month of early access. Wuthering Waves is also mentioned.
I've spent 5 hours diving into the Steam Summer Sale with our features editor, and these are the 11 best games on…
The Steam Summer Sale is live, featuring significant discounts on a variety of games. This guide highlights 11 top picks, including Resident Evil Requiem, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with many titles reaching their lowest prices to date.
What We Played – Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, God of War: Ascension & Trail Out
Several individuals shared their recent gaming experiences, including playing through Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Jurassic Evolution 3: Rebirth DLC, and Marvel Rivals. Others discussed titles like Trail Out on PlayStation 5, God of War: Ascension, and various early access games such as Kromlech and Bellwright.
Palworld 1.0 sounds massive as lead teases "27 pdf pages" of patch notes coming to Pocketpair's early…
Pocketpair's Palworld is set to leave early access on July 10, 2024, with its 1.0 update promising a massive amount of new content, including over 27 pages of patch notes. The update will introduce new areas, Pals, and narrative elements, with the developer recommending players start a fresh save file due to the extensive changes. Palworld 1.0 will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
Enshrouded spikar 1.0-släppdatum för pc och PS5 i oktober
Keen Games has announced that Enshrouded will leave early access on October 15 for PC and PlayStation 5, with an Xbox version planned for Spring 2027. The game has surpassed four million players since its early access launch in 2024. The full release is expected to include new content such as floating islands and improved character models.
May 2026 US Console Sales Marked The Worst May Ever for Xbox, Worst May for PlayStation Since 2000
May 2026 saw the worst US hardware sales for Xbox and the worst May since 2000 for PlayStation, attributed to significant price increases across consoles. While Xbox unit sales declined, revenue grew due to higher prices, whereas PlayStation experienced drops in both units sold and revenue. Nintendo's Switch 2 continued to sell well, though future price hikes may pose a challenge. In software, IO Interactive's 007 First Light topped the charts, followed by Forza Horizon 6 and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
Emergent history simulation The End of History marks six months in Early Access with its biggest update wave yet, now 30% off in the Steam Summer Sale
The emergent history simulation game The End of History is celebrating six months in Early Access with its largest update wave yet. Developed by Hiroshi Sakakibara under the Tatamibeya name, the game is currently 30% off during the Steam Summer Sale, its deepest discount to date. The update introduces significant improvements to relationships, tactical systems, and the user interface, building upon the game's sandbox strategy RPG foundation.
The biggest update YET for monster-tamer roguelike Aethermancer launches today!
The monster-taming roguelike Aethermancer has received its largest update yet, titled "Alchemical Awakening." This free update introduces a new biome, the Alchemical Woods, with nine new monsters, an additional monster type called Echo, and a new Deity boss fight. The update is now available on PC via Steam as part of the game's Early Access roadmap.
The best farm sim since Stardew Valley is on sale right before its 1.0 launch
Fields of Mistria, a farm simulation game inspired by magical girl anime, is currently available at a 20% discount during the Steam Summer Sale, priced at $11.19. The game is set to launch its full 1.0 version on August 5th, after which its price will remain $14.99, with no increase planned by developer NPC Studio.
RuneScape Dragonwilds is headed to several Asian territories thanks to ‘landmark’ publishing deals
Jagex has announced a landmark publishing deal that will bring RuneScape: Dragonwilds to Japan via Graph and to South Korea and Southeast Asia through H2 Interactive. The game is set to launch its 1.0 version on September 15th, which may also coincide with its expanded global release. The article also details ongoing early access development and planned fixes for various in-game issues.
Stars Reach adds a lore animatic, addresses stability, and revokes outdated playtest ahead of early access
Playable Worlds has revoked access to an older playtest version of Stars Reach to streamline preparation for its Early Access launch. The studio also released a game update addressing stability, performance, and bug issues, and added a lore animatic for new characters. UI elements for trading, character selection, and menus have also been refined.
Carnival Hunt Final Open Playtest Runs July 3 to July 6
Crytivo has announced that Carnival Hunt, a 5v1 asymmetrical multiplayer horror game, will enter Early Access on July 23, 2026. A final open playtest is scheduled from July 3 to July 6, offering players a chance to try the game and earn a unique cosmetic item. The game features one player as a Monster hunting five Rabbit players who must complete objectives and escape a dark carnival.
I Have Nothing But Respect For This Game That Doesn’t Care About Launching In GTA 6’s Shadow
Keen Games has announced that its early access title Enshrouded will launch its 1.0 version on October 15, despite the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6. The developer is confident in their game's appeal, even as other studios shift release dates to avoid GTA 6's shadow. Enshrouded, which has maintained a "very positive" rating on Steam since its early access launch in January 2024, is compared to a multiplayer Skyrim and is set to release shortly before the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6.
Titanfall spiritual successor Empulse is out now, but it's got a lot to prove
Empulse, a spiritual successor to Titanfall developed by 1047 Games, has launched in early access on Steam. The multiplayer FPS features wall-running, grapples, and mechs, drawing inspiration from Titanfall and Black Ops 3. The studio is focusing on community development without microtransactions or battle passes at launch.
