March 27, 2023
Casimiro PT/Shutterstock.com You take on some risk buying Early Access games on Steam since they're sometimes low quality and may end up abandoned. However, if you read reviews and stick to well-regarded studios, it's not hard to find enjoyable games at lower prices.While looking for your next game to play on the Steam storefront, you’ll…

Casimiro PT/Shutterstock.com

You take on some risk buying Early Access games on Steam since they’re sometimes low quality and may end up abandoned. However, if you read reviews and stick to well-regarded studios, it’s not hard to find enjoyable games at lower prices.

While looking for your next game to play on the Steam storefront, you’ll inevitably come across a few labeled “Steam Early Access.” So what does Early Access mean for you as the player, and are there downsides or risks involved in buying Early Access games?

How Early Access Works

Early Access lets game makers put their games up for sale while they’re still under development. Steam itself doesn’t put a lot of restrictions or rules on Early Access—you could, theoretically, put a broken mess online and try to get a few suckers to pay for it. That said, Steam expressly states in its documentation that Early Access isn’t a place to showcase tech demos; the game needs to be playable.

Steam itself doesn’t seem to enforce this, though, relying instead on its community. Basically,…

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