Entertainment · Gaming · 1 hr ago
Denis Dyack says big publishers are raising expectations for early access games
Denis Dyack says big publishers misuse early access by releasing polished games through a system meant to involve players while development continues.
Early access lets players try games before full release and give feedback, but Dyack says big publishers can use it as a marketing tool for games close to completion.
He argues that releases such as Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile raise players’ expectations for early access games.
That can make it harder for smaller studios to attract players to less-polished projects, including Dyack’s Deadhaus Sonata, which is in early access on Steam.
Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos said early access now covers different kinds of releases, making the term more confusing.
Dyack and Deadhaus Sonata creative director Ethan McKinnon say developers should make sure their games run well, listen to Steam reviews and treat early access like a real launch.
Denis Dyack says major publishers are using Early Access to market polished games, raising player expectations.
He argues this makes it harder for independent developers to release less-polished games while they are still being developed.
Dyack’s current game, Deadhaus Sonata, is in Early Access on Steam.
Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos says Early Access now covers different kinds of releases, making the term more confusing.
Dyack acknowledged that Apocalypse Studios failed to get some basics right when Deadhaus Sonata launched in Early Access.
- Who
- Denis Dyack, a game developer, and other Deadhaus Sonata leads. Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos also comments.
- What
- Dyack says major publishers’ use of Early Access is raising expectations and disadvantaging smaller developers.
- When
- PC Gamer published its report on October 29, 2026; VGC published its report on October 30, 2026. Deadhaus Sonata’s Early Access launch was earlier in 2026.
- Where
- Deadhaus Sonata is in Early Access on Steam.
- Why
- Dyack says highly polished releases used as marketing tools lead players to expect near-perfect Early Access games.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Deadhaus Sonata had a rough Early Access launch.
PC Gamer published its report on Dyack’s comments.
VGC published its report on the comments.
- Current game
- Deadhaus Sonata
- Platform
- Steam
- Early Access launch
- Earlier in 2026
- Dyack’s earlier games
- Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain; Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
- Published reports
- PC Gamer: October 29, 2026; VGC: October 30, 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
They can put up a polished product and rake in cash
It's a marketing beat for them.
Early access could mean a game like ours doing long-term open development, or it could be a game three months from a 1.0 release that's effectively doing a paid beta soft launch and using the Early Access term as a way to soften player expectations
Developers need to treat early access like a real launch, because players do.