[fps-hero]

Early access is a great way to outsource your QA. Triple A QA teams number in the hundreds, but for an independent game to have that many people playing it is a triumph in itself.

If people keep playing your game in early access, you must be on to something. There are tens of thousands of games people could be playing, but for them to pick yours means you are scratching an itch that can’t be found elsewhere, and that inspires developers create great games.

Early access does get flack for allowing people to release unfinished, often never finished games, but it’s a wonderful test of product market fit. If people try your game and like it, give you feedback to improve your game so even more people like it, it’s the ultimate positive feedback loop.

[duxup]

It certainly sets expectations and gamers have really adapted to it / seem to receive the whole process fairly well.

I don't game like I used to but I was playing an early access game recently, got a pop up on a keyboard shortcut to submit a bug with a screen shot and the game state.

Total win win for everyone.