# ‘AAA publishers are abusing early access,’ Denis Dyack says, and that’s making things harder for everyone else

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/aaa-publishers-are-abusing-early-access-denis-dyack-says-and-thats-making-things-harder-for-everyone-else/
- Published: 2026-10-29T16:46:59+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T02:07:32+00:00
- Original publisher: PC Gamer
- Original article: https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/game-development/aaa-publishers-are-abusing-early-access-denis-dyack-says-and-thats-making-things-harder-for-everyone-else/
- Topics: Gaming

## Key points

- Dyack says polished big-budget releases raise expectations for Early Access.
- Indie teams face tougher comparisons in the same marketplace.
- Deadhaus Sonata’s team says launch basics and clear communication matter.

## Summary

Denis Dyack says major publishers are using Steam Early Access to market polished games that are close to release, changing what players expect from the label. He argues this makes it harder for smaller independent developers, who may use Early Access to gather feedback and finish less polished games.

Dyack points to Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile as examples shaping expectations, while Deadhaus Sonata’s creative director says players compare all games in the same marketplace. Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos says Early Access now covers both long-term development and paid beta launches, making its meaning less clear. Dyack acknowledged his studio’s own launch missed basics such as performance, Unreal Engine setup and explaining the game; his advice is to treat Early Access like a full launch.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.