Early Access
Ongoing coverage on Early Access.
Latest coverage
Hearth Bound Announced - Demo release for House & Home Fest on Steam March 30th
Hearth Bound, a co-op home building game, has been announced with a demo releasing on Steam on March 30th as part of the House & Home Fest. The game features extensive customization tools, the ability to share homes with critters, and an early access roadmap focused on discovery and catalog management. The developer was inspired by the housing system in World of Warcraft and previously worked on base building for Starship Troopers: Extermination.
Anmäl dig till stängda betan av Molyneux-spelet Masters of Albion
Players can now register for the closed beta of Peter Molyneux's upcoming game, Masters of Albion, which is set to launch in early access on April 22. Molyneux, known for classic titles like Populous and Dungeon Keeper, aims for Masters of Albion to be a comeback after less successful recent projects like Curiosity and Godus. The game is planned as a trilogy.
Virtual Reality Check
The VR Games Showcase 2026 featured announcements for Payday: Aces High and the VR version of FlatOut 4: Total Insanity. FlatOut 4: Total Insanity VR is set to launch in Early Access on SteamVR on April 23.
Spiritvale adds cosmetics, pets, and mounts to the game with its latest pre-early access update
Spiritvale has received a new update adding cosmetics, pets, and mounts to the game prior to its early access launch. The developer confirmed that purchased cosmetics will support artists and ongoing development. A patch trailer offers a preview of the new cosmetic items.
Analysts say Slay the Spire 2 is the best-performing deckbuilder of all time—and the competition isn't close
Analysts from Newzoo report that Slay the Spire 2 has achieved the best launch performance for any deckbuilder game on record, significantly surpassing titles like Balatro and its predecessor. The game sold 3 million copies in its first week of early access on Steam, generating approximately $75 million in gross revenue before platform cuts.
Open-world pirate games are so back: Windrose hits 1.5 million Steam wishlists as 800,000 players convince devs to leave…
The open-world pirate survival game Windrose has achieved 1.5 million Steam wishlists and had over 800,000 players try its demo during Steam Next Fest. Developer Windrose Crew is using player feedback to refine the game for its upcoming Early Access launch, with planned improvements including enhanced co-op features and more loot variety.
First-Person Horror Adventure Among the Sleep Lands on Android in Early Access
The first-person horror adventure game Among the Sleep, developed by Krillbite Studio and published by Snapbreak, has launched on Android in early access. Originally released for PC in 2014, the game puts players in the role of a two-year-old toddler navigating a nightmare.
Beauty Store Simulator 💄✨ Debuts on Steam This April
Novara Games and PlayWay SA announced that Beauty Store Simulator will launch on Steam for PC on April 10. This first-person simulation game allows players to build and manage their own beauty store empire, offering services, collaborating with influencers, and promoting their brand.
Fortnite Is Ditching Several Modes Including Rocket Racing Amid Layoffs and Cost-Cutting
Epic Games is shutting down several Fortnite modes, including Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival Battle Stage, and Fortnite Ballistic, as part of a company-wide cost-cutting initiative that includes over 1,000 layoffs. The modes will be removed by April 2026 and October respectively, with Epic citing a failure to attract a large enough player base.
Morning Previews
Nova Roma is an upcoming game that has recently entered Early Access. Initial impressions suggest a unique gameplay experience, with the game aiming to offer players a fresh take on its genre.
Nova Roma Early Access Preview - Rome wasn't launched into 1.0
Nova Roma, a city builder developed by Lion Shield and published by Hooded Horse, has launched into Early Access. The game allows players to oversee settlers establishing a new civilization inspired by the Roman Empire, focusing on building classic Roman structures, managing supply chains, and appeasing gods. Despite being in Early Access, the game presents a strong foundation with intuitive gameplay and a visually distinct art style, though some systems like the gods and combat feel underdeveloped.
Right, let’s get some practice in, just in case – Air Defender is a new wargame that keeps your eyes on the sky
Air Defender, a new wargame developed by ROTOR3, has recently received a flurry of updates since its Early Access launch late last year. The game focuses on radar-based air defense gameplay, tasking players with managing air traffic and responding to potential threats in a 1990s NATO setting. It is available on PC via Steam with a limited-time discount.
Steam Still Selling $50 Kerbal Space Program 2 Despite Studio Closure
Kerbal Space Program 2 remains on sale for $50 on Steam despite its development studio closing nearly two years ago, with the last update occurring around the same time. Players are criticizing Steam for not providing clearer warnings about the game's abandoned status, highlighting issues with the Early Access model's integrity. This situation raises concerns about consumer protection and could prompt reforms on digital storefronts.
Nova Roma release countdown: Exact date and time
The city-builder Nova Roma, developed by Lion Shield and published by Hooded Horse, is set to launch in early access on PC on March 26. The game will be available on Steam, with specific release times provided for various time zones including 10am PT, 1pm ET, and 6pm UTC. Players will manage Romans to build a new home, facing challenges and appeasing gods to ensure their city's prosperity.
Space Engineers 2 Major Update VS2.2 - Mechanical Blocks & Weapons Now Available
Keen Software House has released Major Update VS2.2 for Space Engineers 2 Alpha, introducing new gameplay systems including mechanical blocks, weapons, and combat basics. The update also expands exploration with new celestial bodies and introduces economic features like trading and contracts. Space Engineers 2 remains in Early Access, with future updates planned to add wheels, NPCs, and cooperative multiplayer.
Airship survivalbox Echoes of Elysium heralds a ‘major player reception turnaround’ after 20+ patches
Loric Games has seen a significant turnaround in player reception for their airship survival sandbox, Echoes of Elysium, moving from 'mixed' to 'mostly positive' reviews on Steam after over 20 patches. The studio credits their commitment to listening to feedback and implementing improvements for the shift. The game is currently part of the Steam Spring Sale with a 20% discount.
Chess blended with dungeon crawling, Below the Crown hits 1.0 on April 21
Below the Crown, a game blending chess with dungeon crawling mechanics developed by the creators of Duskers, will launch its full 1.0 version on April 21st. An update ahead of the release introduces new features like replays, narrative elements, an infinite dungeon mode, and rebalanced gameplay.
Survivor Mercs Returns with Major “Final Drill” Update, Introducing New Weapons, Improved Upgrades, and Extensive Balancing
Wolpertinger Games and Wandering Wizard have released the "Final Drill" Update 0.15 for their Early Access title Survivor Mercs. This major update introduces new weapons, overhauls progression systems, and implements extensive balancing changes across gameplay, UI, and performance. The update signifies the final phase of Early Access, with the full Version 1.0 release planned soon for Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
XLGAMES’ extraction shooter The Cube, Save Us crumbles under bad reviews, low population
XLGAMES' new free-to-play extraction shooter, The Cube, Save Us, has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews and a rapidly declining player count shortly after its early access launch. The game struggled to maintain even 2,000 daily players on Steam, with many critics citing a lack of substance and clunky combat. The studio also temporarily closed the in-game cash shop due to fraudulent activity.
Masters of Albion is a 'Best of Peter Molyneux' greatest hits collection in one game, but I fear it might not measure up to the games that inspired it
Masters of Albion, a new game from Peter Molyneux and 22cans, aims to be a greatest hits collection of his previous works like Fable, Black & White, and Dungeon Keeper. The game features city-building, hero-based exploration, and tower defense elements, with a focus on player choice and pace. While the game avoids NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics, the preview expresses concern that its individual systems may not reach the depth of their inspirations.
