# “AAA publishers are abusing Early Access,” RPG dev says

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/aaa-publishers-are-abusing-early-access-rpg-dev-says/
- Published: 2026-10-28T17:51:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T03:10:51+00:00
- Original publisher: GamesRadar+
- Original article: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/survival/aaa-publishers-are-abusing-early-access-rpg-dev-says-and-steam-games-like-subnautica-2-and-path-of-exile-have-warped-the-landscape-and-players-expectations/
- Topics: Gaming

## Key points

- Dyack says big publishers are changing expectations for Early Access.
- Smaller studios may face higher standards as a result.
- Subnautica 2’s team says the programme supports meaningful changes.

## Summary

Denis Dyack, head of Apocalypse Studios, says major publishers’ use of Early Access is raising players’ expectations and putting independent developers at a disadvantage. He argues that releasing polished games through the programme as a marketing event can undermine its original purpose: gathering feedback while a game is still being developed.

Dyack points to Subnautica 2 and Path of Exile as examples that have shifted expectations, while Apocalypse’s Deadhaus Sonata faced barriers to reaching players and launched with performance problems. Creative director Ethan McKinnon says players compare games in the same marketplace, so smaller teams face higher standards; Subnautica 2 creative director Anthony Gallegos says Early Access lets his team make meaningful changes based on player feedback.

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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.