Publishers Must Ensure Reliable Servers for Paid Early Access
- Early access games trend in the video game industry
- Problems with early access: Suicide Squad case study
- Expectations and disappointments with early access
- Responsibility of delivering on early access promises
- The reality of "early" access in games
Early Access Games: A Rising Trend in the Video Game Industry
In the recent past, we witnessed an upswing in video game companies providing a few days of early access to high-profile games for an additional cost. This trend seems to be growing, with major game publishers seemingly holding games to ransom, charging players a premium to play a few days before the official release. But what happens when gamers shell out a significant amount for a game and early access, only to find they can’t play the game? This is currently the case with WB Games and Rocksteady’s latest release, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
Early Access Comes With Its Own Problems
After multiple delays, game developer Rocksteady finally launched its highly anticipated game, Suicide Squad. Unlike the Batman games it had previously developed, this new game is a live-service co-op looter shooter featuring iconic villains like Harley Quinn. However, the game has faced a series of issues, from delays and leaks to gameplay trailers and previews. The game is now available for those who paid a hefty sum for the game’s special edition, which comes with additional content and one significant “perk”: three-day early access. Unfortunately, as of January 29, players have been unable to play the game they spent their hard-earned money on.
When Early Access Fails
Players who purchased the game’s deluxe edition were supposed to start playing Suicide Squad today. However, due to a bug, some players found that the entire campaign was already completed when they started the game. As a result, Rocksteady had to take down the servers, making the game unplayable since it doesn’t have an offline mode.
The Expectation of Early Access
While the deluxe edition does come with additional cosmetics and a free token that allows players to upgrade a battle pass to its premium version, most players purchased the deluxe version with the expectation of early access. This expectation was not met, leaving many players disappointed.
Delivering on Promises
Offering early access to a video game as a premium marketing point carries a responsibility to deliver on that promise. Unfortunately, in this case, WB was unable to provide what players wanted: early access to Suicide Squad. At best, if the servers are still down for most of tomorrow, players might get 24 hours of early access. But WB won’t delay the game for everyone else by two days to ensure those who paid more get to play “early.” This situation serves as a cautionary tale: Be wary of paying premium prices for early access.
The Reality of “Early” Access
It’s important to remember that games like Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1 aren’t actually launched early for those who pay extra. These games undergo all the necessary certifications, testing, and checks required to launch a game on consoles. As such, these games are ready to launch for everyone, provided the servers are up.
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