Reports suggest that Steam early access games that have not been updated in a significant amount of time will now be more clearly labeled as such. Valve has started adding warnings to early access information boxes, making it easier for users to identify projects that have not progressed in years.
While it may not have been very easy to accidentally purchase a ‘dead’ early access game in the past, this new labeling system eliminates the need for extensive research into update logs or user reviews.
Although Valve has not officially announced this update, it has been well-received by many. However, some have raised concerns about the execution, pointing out that games like Heartbound, featured in the header image, have received recent updates in beta. The labels appear to only apply to gaps between full public updates.
It raises the question of how long is too long of an interval between early access updates. When do we deem a project inactive? The new labels from Valve can be likened to a doctor declaring a patient deceased on the operating table, only for the patient to suddenly wake up and protest.
Personally, I believe the tolerance for update gaps varies depending on the game or genre. I follow the philosophy of allowing developers time to work on their projects. I only invest in early access games if I am satisfied with the current state of the game, rather than its potential future. Embracing the present is crucial, as the future is uncertain.
Valve has been implementing stricter measures on the Steam platform, such as tightening rules for games with delayed season pass DLCs.
