Early Access
Ongoing coverage on Early Access.
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Why I Play: Palworld gives us the weird, uncomfortable reality of a mature Pokemon title – on purpose
This opinion piece explores how Palworld intentionally leans into comparisons with Pokemon by presenting a more mature take on creature collection and utilization. The author argues that Palworld's design choices, such as the juxtaposition of cute creatures with realistic weaponry and industrial labor, force players to confront the ethical implications of such systems, which the Pokemon series avoids. The game's friction stems from its deliberate engagement with these uncomfortable realities, prompting reflection on player desires for mature gaming experiences.
‘We’re not walking away from Starseeker,’ System Era says as it reworks the Astroneer sequel’s roadmap
System Era Softworks is reworking the roadmap for its sequel Starseeker, acknowledging its slow start in early access. The developer is committed to improving the game with new content, including cooperative objectives and the earlier introduction of the main antagonist, with the first changes expected in August. Astroneer also received an update focused on improving the Intermodal Terminal.
Monster, svamp och billig vodka: Det är spelhelg
Several editors at FZ.se are sharing their gaming plans for the weekend, covering a variety of genres and titles. Plans include monster catching and production optimization in Palworld, loot hunting in Splatoon Raiders, and revisiting classics like Super Mario Sunshine and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Other anticipated games include Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, the Grim Dawn expansion, and finishing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
Halo: Campaign Evolved early adopters were unable to play the game on Steam as it kept forcing them to look at the art…
Early adopters of Halo: Campaign Evolved on Steam encountered issues at launch, with the game repeatedly opening an art book instead of the game itself. A fix was quickly deployed, and a workaround involved uninstalling the art book via Steam properties. Players also reported problems linking their Microsoft accounts, a necessary step to play the game.
Starseeker kicks off a big drilling event and plans a new roadmap
Starseeker has launched a new community challenge called Astroneer Expeditions, where players must gather Astral Flux to help refuel the ESS Starseeker's Flux Drive before August 2nd. The game is also undergoing changes to its roadmap based on player feedback from its first month in Early Access, with a new roadmap to be published later.
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s Early Access Runs Into Issues, Support Reportedly Investigating
Players who purchased the Premium Edition of Halo: Campaign Evolved are reportedly being locked out of the early access period, despite paying an upgrade fee. Halo Support is investigating the issue and has provided troubleshooting steps for Steam users, while advising others to wait for a fix. The game is officially set to release on July 28th for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
Halo Remake Players On Xbox Who Paid More To Play Early Can’t
Players on Xbox and the Xbox PC app who purchased the premium edition of Halo: Campaign Evolved are unable to access the game despite paying extra for early access. Halo Studios is investigating the issue, which appears to be widespread. The game is also noted to be working on PlayStation 5, though it has faced other criticisms regarding gameplay changes and cross-platform co-op requirements.
OFFBEAT Early Access
The music tycoon game OFFBEAT, developed by Whetstone Games and Pantaloon, has launched on Steam's Early Access. Described as a "real audio tool," the game allows players to produce their own music.
Release Dates/Windows
Several games have announced their release dates. Deadliest Pigeon will launch on August 6th, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is set for July 30th. Additionally, the game Liquidation will be released in Early Access.
Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Brand New Features in This Remake of A Classic
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, launches July 28, 2026, with early access for Premium Edition owners starting July 23. The remake features updated visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, three new story missions, four-player online co-op with cross-play, and new gameplay modifiers called Skulls. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud, and Game Pass, with cross-progression across Xbox, PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.
Halo Campaign Evolved pre-loading times for PS5, PC, and Xbox
Pre-loading times for Halo Campaign Evolved vary across platforms and editions. While some players can install the game now, PC players on Steam may need to wait until July 23rd. Early access is available for Premium Edition owners several days before the official launch.
What time does Halo Campaign Evolved release?
Halo Campaign Evolved will have a global simultaneous release on July 28 at 3pm UTC across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Owners of the Premium Edition can access the game up to five days earlier, starting July 23 at 3pm UTC. The article also details pre-loading options and the importance of linking Microsoft accounts for cross-play and cross-progression.
Palworld Has Accrued $700 Million Revenue in Its Lifetime – Rumor
Pocketpair's Palworld has reportedly generated $700 million in revenue from 30.5 million sales across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox platforms. The game has surpassed 40 million players and achieved a peak of nearly one million concurrent players on Steam. The article also notes that a significant portion of players have accumulated over 100 hours in the game.
Runescape Dragonwilds Sells 1.3 Million Copies in Early Access, Surpasses Internal Forecast
Jagex is celebrating over 1.3 million copies sold for Runescape: Dragonwilds during its early access period, significantly surpassing their initial forecast of 200,000. CEO Job Bellamy attributed the success to a positive reception from Eastern audiences, particularly in Chinese markets, which defied the team's expectations.
Nightmare Frontier Leaves Early Access
Nightmare Frontier, a tactical extraction shooter developed by Ice Code Games and published by Slitherine, has officially left Early Access and launched version 1.0 on PC via Steam. The game is now fully available to players.
AION 2 Founder's Packs Include Advance Access
NC, formerly known as NCSOFT, has announced that AION 2 Founder's Packs are now available on Steam. The upcoming free-to-play MMORPG sequel will offer players five days of early access through these packs.
Here’s How To Play Halo: Campaign Evolved With Your Friends Across Xbox, PlayStation, And PC
This guide explains how to enable cross-platform play for Halo: Campaign Evolved, allowing players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S to play together. The article details the process of adding friends via their Gamertag and forming co-op parties. It also touches on the different game editions and their early access benefits.
NBA 2K27 Announced
2K Games has announced NBA 2K27, the latest entry in their professional basketball simulation series. Early Access for the game is scheduled to begin on August 28th, and the announcement also revealed this year's cover athletes.
Drone Sector Early Access
Drone Sector, an action/strategy game where players operate drones on futuristic battlefields, has launched on Steam in Early Access. The game is developed by Icosphere.
Release Dates/Windows
This article announces release dates for several games. Delverium will launch in Early Access on September 22nd, and Echo Weaver has an official release date of October 8th for all platforms. Factory Default also has a release date mentioned.