Early Access
Ongoing coverage on Early Access.
Latest coverage
Thick as Thieves Studio Hit by Layoffs Affecting 17 Employees Due to Another Project’s Cancellation
OtherSide Entertainment has laid off 17 employees following the cancellation of a project codenamed Argos. The studio, which recently released the co-op stealth game Thick as Thieves on PC, cited the challenging industry climate as a reason for the project's unviability. Several former employees have confirmed their departure and are seeking new employment.
HERE COMES THE SWARM EXPANDS EARLY ACCESS WITH NEW DEITY YANGWU AND MAJOR CONTENT UPDATE
CableHook Games has released a major update for the Early Access version of Here Comes The Swarm, concluding its initial development roadmap. The update introduces a new deity named Yangwu, focused on economic growth and settlement management, along with new progression options, gameplay improvements, and community-driven fixes. Three additional major content updates, including a new campaign, are planned as Early Access development continues.
Outward 2, Nine Dots Studio’s Flagship RPG, to Receive Additional Time for Polishing
Nine Dots Studio has announced that Outward 2 will no longer launch into Early Access on July 7th, and is now targeting a 2027 release. CEO Guillaume Boucher-Vidal stated the delay is to allow for additional polishing and to meet player expectations, citing feedback from playtests. The game will be available on Windows PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.
Stars Reach talks about its infinite world generation system in its latest video
Playable Worlds detailed the new world generation system for Stars Reach in a recent video, explaining how it uses a library of topologies to create diverse planets. The studio also confirmed that the game is slated for an early access release this summer, with recent updates including chat bubbles and underwater effects.
Witchfire 0.9 Update Preview: Marshlands & New Story Bits — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Developer Astronauts has released the 0.9 update for their early access first-person shooter, Witchfire, adding the final map, Marshlands, and new narrative elements. This update introduces new enemies, refined gameplay, and a more complete sense of progression as the game nears its full release. The update also includes early story content, featuring NPCs and a brief appearance from the Witch herself.
Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara Review – Just One More Spin
Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara offers a cozy shop simulation experience with the addictive loop of opening gachapon capsules and managing a business. Despite some visual oddities and minor gameplay hiccups, the game shows significant potential in Early Access, providing satisfying progression and customization options.
THE IMPRINT — Literary Publishing Management Sim Launches in Early Access on November, 2026.
The Imprint, a literary publishing management simulation game, is set to launch in Early Access on PC in November 2026. Developed by solo developer Wojciech Ryczko, the game allows players to build a publishing house, sign authors, and navigate the complexities of the literary industry. A key feature is the causal graph, which explains the outcomes of book releases.
Brave the Wild Lands: Endure the Fury of Nemesis in Titan Quest II’s Biggest Update Yet
THQ Nordic has released the 'The Wild Lands' update for Titan Quest II, which is currently in Early Access. This significant update introduces new areas like ancient ruins and swamps, new enemies including boarmen and centaurs, and challenging boss fights against Nemesis. The level cap has been raised to 55, with new passive skills and relics available for character optimization.
Hands On: Astroneer Turns Co-Op Extraction Adventure, But Is 'Starseeker' Worth Playing In Early Access?
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, the co-op focused spin-off of Astroneer, is now available in Early Access on Nintendo Switch. This new title shifts from the original's survival sandbox to a more structured extraction-style gameplay loop with time-limited missions and hostile alien creatures. While the game shows promise with its charming aesthetic and engaging co-op design, it currently suffers from bugs and progress-blocking issues typical of early access titles, alongside the inclusion of microtransactions.
PS5's State of Decay 3 Looks to Have All the Ingredients for Success
State of Decay 3, currently in Early Alpha, showcases extensive 72-minute gameplay footage highlighting resource scavenging, base building, and emergent world interactions. While the art style is noted as uninspired, the game appears to have strong potential for financial success within the popular survival genre. The official release is targeted for 2027, though a delay is considered possible given its current development stage.
Space Tales Sets August 19, 2026 for 1.0 Launch, Adds French and Spanish Today
Saigon Dragon Studios announced that its retro-futuristic sci-fi real-time strategy game, Space Tales, will launch its full 1.0 version on Steam on August 19, 2026. The latest update adds French and Spanish language support, with German coming soon. The 1.0 release will complete the story-driven campaign and expand strategic challenges.
STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions Early Access Review – To Boldly Go
STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions, the follow-up to the 2019 survival crafting game Astroneer, shifts focus to an extraction shooter genre with a strong emphasis on multiplayer. While the game offers a charming visual style and fun core loop on PlayStation 5, its early access state is marred by poor tutorialization, clunky UI, and opaque progression systems. Developer System Era Softworks plans to support the game for at least a year, with potential for significant content additions.
PlayerUnknown's survival game becomes free-to-own and offers Steam refunds 'without restrictions on playtime…
PlayerUnknown Productions has announced the closure of development for their survival game, Prologue: Go Wayback!, less than a year after its early access launch in 2025. The game is now free-to-own on Steam, and all players who purchased it during early access are eligible for unrestricted refunds until August 17, 2026. While development on this title has ceased, the studio will continue working on its Melba game engine with a smaller team.
Starseeker sees peak Steam count of 1813 players as Switch 2 crossplay gets borked
A recent patch for the cozy extraction title Starseeker has caused a cross-play issue between PC and Nintendo Switch due to a delay in the Switch version. While the developers assure players their saves are safe, it's recommended to avoid the Switch version for now. The game, developed by System Era Softworks, launched into early access last week and saw a peak of nearly 2000 players on Steam, though reviews are currently mixed.
Abe Lincoln dodged the bullet in goblinAmerica, a brain-mottling shooter set in a putrefying alternative USA
goblinAmerica, a first-person shooter set in an alternate USA, has launched into early access. Players embody reincarnations of US presidents, reliving their "worst moments" through fast-paced, movement-based combat. The game draws inspiration from historical trivia and features a grotesque art style reminiscent of titles like Cruelty Squad.
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions early access feels like an extraction shooter without the shooter
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions has launched into early access, offering a cozy take on the extraction genre without direct combat. Players embark on 30-minute expeditions to gather resources, scan wildlife, and complete missions on various planets, with the risk of losing all collected items if they fail. The game features emergent co-op interactions and community challenges that unlock new content, aiming for a familiar yet distinct experience from the base Astroneer game.
Outward 2 Delayed From Launching Next Month
Developer Nine Dots has announced a delay for their open-world co-op RPG, Outward 2, which was originally slated for a July 7th release. The delay is due to feedback from an open beta that did not meet player expectations, prompting the studio to ensure the game is in a better state for its early access launch. A new release date has not been set, but the game is now expected to launch in early access within the next 18 months, with a full release targeted for 2027.
EverQuest Legends has begun $20 preorders for its July 28th launch – new trailer ahoy
EverQuest Legends has begun preorders for its July 28th launch, priced at $20 which includes the first month of subscription. The game is a reimagining of the original EverQuest, designed for solo and casual play with support for groups and raids. Preorder customers gain access to a beta period running from July 1st to July 21st.
Preview: 2 Fights in 2 Tight Spaces Is a Start
2 Fights in 2 Tight Spaces is a strategic deckbuilder with online multiplayer that is currently in early access. The game features a unique mechanic where card abilities change based on equipped weapons. While the core gameplay shows promise, the current build suffers from bugs, including camera issues and problems with objective completion, as well as multiplayer synchronization problems.
Split Circuit Arena Unveiled With First Trailer and Steam Page
Knifing Mantis has unveiled Split Circuit Arena, a physics-driven co-op arena combat game for PC and Steam Deck. The game features two players controlling a single robot, emphasizing split-control co-op and PvE combat. A Steam Playtest and demo are planned for later this year, with the first trailer and Steam page now available.