How long did they say Early Access would take, and how long has it been? · 2,573 in Early Access · 3,535 promises read · 1,188 announced, not started
| Year | Games | In Early Access now | Graduated | Median time in EA | Promise read | Overdue | Promise kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,179 | 1,154 | 252% | 2 months | 1,11795% | 42of 1,005 parsed | — |
| 2025 | 452 | 452 | 00% | 13 months | 41892% | 154of 358 parsed | — |
| 2024 | 246 | 246 | 00% | 2 years 1 month | 23093% | 138of 186 parsed | — |
| 2023 | 127 | 127 | 00% | 3 years 2 months | 11792% | 72of 95 parsed | — |
| 2022 | 87 | 87 | 00% | 4 years 2 months | 7991% | 52of 62 parsed | — |
| 2021 | 65 | 65 | 00% | 5 years 2 months | 5889% | 35of 44 parsed | — |
| 2020 | 54 | 54 | 00% | 6 years 2 months | 5194% | 26of 33 parsed | — |
| 2019 | 53 | 53 | 00% | 7 years 3 months | 53100% | 27of 30 parsed | — |
| 2018 | 32 | 32 | 00% | 8 years 2 months | 3094% | 21of 22 parsed | — |
| 2017 | 39 | 39 | 00% | 9 years 3 months | 3897% | 19of 21 parsed | — |
| Game | Promise | Promised | Elapsed | Clock | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EslabongEslabong | I expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately 3 to 9 months. The game is already close to the experience I want to deliver, but I will use Early Access to gather feedback and make improvements based on what the community wants and expects. As a player, I dislike Early Access games that remain unfinished for years or make unrealistic promises. My goal is to avoid that and keep the development process transparent and focused.read 12 Sep 2026 | 3–9 months | 3 weeks | 7% | On the clock8 months left | |
| IDLEPUNK - Ghost LinkIDLEPUNK - Ghost Link | We currently expect Early Access to last around 12–18 months, although this may change depending on development progress and community feedback.read 7 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 1 month | 7% | On the clock17 months left | |
| 3876 AD: Corruption3876 AD: Corruption | It depends on funding. This will ultimatively determine if I can continue having this as my only employment or not. If I can work full-time on this project I want to have a final version 1.0 done in about 2 years. Otherwise it will take maybe 3-4 years for the full feature set because I will only be able to work on this part-time.read 6 Sep 2026 | 36–48 months | 4 months | 7% | On the clock3 years 8 months left | |
| DeadEye: A Roguelike ShooterDeadEye: A Roguelike Shooter | DeadEye is currently expected to remain in Early Access for approximately one year. This is an estimate rather than a fixed deadline and may change depending on development progress, technical circumstances, and the direction of the project.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 3 weeks | 7% | On the clock11 months left | |
| SCP Foundation: Universe HorrorSCP Foundation: Universe Horror | We currently plan to remain in Early Access for approximately six to twelve months. This time will allow us to polish core systems, improve AI behavior, expand content, and balance the overall survival experience based on community feedback.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 3 weeks | 6% | On the clock11 months left | |
| [WoG] War of Genesis: Idle Loot[WoG] War of Genesis: Idle Loot | We anticipate roughly up to two months, depending on circumstances. This period may be flexibly adjusted based on how content development and community feedback progress. Our goal is not to hit a fixed date, but to deliver a sufficiently complete experience.read 13 Sep 2026 | 0–2 months | 3 days | 6% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Lv Down RPGLv Down RPG | We currently expect Lv Down RPG to remain in Early Access for approximately 6 to 12 months. This estimate may change depending on development progress and player feedback.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 3 weeks | 6% | On the clock11 months left | |
| Morhval: RavenglaireMorhval: Ravenglaire | We currently expect Morhval to remain in Early Access for approximately 18 to 24 months. This is an estimate rather than a guaranteed deadline. Morhval is a solo-developed, systems-heavy RPG, and the duration may change depending on technical challenges, community feedback and the scope of the features developed during Early Access.read 9 Sep 2026 | 18–24 months | 1 month | 5% | On the clock23 months left | |
| Raven ErrantRaven Errant | About 6 months for the planned features to be finalized, this is mostly new warband factions and additional weapons, armor and equipment. Depending on the level of player feedback and feature/gameplay requests this could be longer.read 12 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 1 week | 5% | On the clock6 months left | |
| D.E.C.A.Y.D.E.C.A.Y. | It will take roughly about one year to implement everything I have planned.read 10 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 3 weeks | 5% | On the clock11 months left | |
| 暗黑修个仙暗黑修个仙 | We estimate the Early Access phase will last roughly 2‑3 months. The actual timeline will be adjusted according to player feedback, test results and development progress. We will prioritize core gameplay, stability and overall experience, and we do not commit to a fixed date for exiting Early Access.read 13 Sep 2026 | about 3 months | 4 days | 5% | On the clock3 months left | |
| BreakEven - IdleBreakEven - Idle | I anticipate BreakEven being in Early Access for approximately 6–12 months. This timeline may evolve based on player feedback and ongoing development. As Early Access approaches, I'll share a detailed roadmap and keep you updated on my development plan.read 10 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 2 weeks | 5% | On the clock11 months left | |
| NetherhuntNetherhunt | We currently expect Netherhunt to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 months. This timeframe may change as we evaluate player feedback and the scope of improvements needed to deliver the best possible experience.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 5% | On the clock11 months left | |
| 不劳则死不劳则死 | I plan to advance development toward the full release through approximately 14 medium-sized updates. Based on the current update cadence (roughly one every 40 days), the Early Access phase is expected to last about 18 months.read 6 Sep 2026 | 1–18 months | 3 weeks | 4% | On the clock17 months left | |
| Junkyard Saints: ScrapstormJunkyard Saints: Scrapstorm | The current plan is to remain in Early Access for approximately 12–24 months, depending on community feedback and development progress.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 1 month | 4% | On the clock23 months left | |
| Star Corsairs: Fractured FrontierStar Corsairs: Fractured Frontier | Roughly one year. That should be enough to finish the story campaign, rebalance the economy against player feedback and polish the technical rough edges. If players show me it needs longer, I'll say so openly and update this estimate rather than quietly let it slip.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 4% | On the clock11 months left | |
| MECH DISTRICTMECH DISTRICT | Early Access for approximately one to two months. This timeframe may change depending on player feedback, testing results, technical issues, and the amount of refinement required before full release.read 12 Sep 2026 | 1–2 months | 2 days | 4% | On the clock2 months left | |
| DOGS of the DARKDOGS of the DARK | Estimating about 1-2 more years, but this could shorten or lengthen later.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 4 weeks | 4% | On the clock23 months left | |
| Zhong Kui: SurvivorZhong Kui: Survivor | We currently plan for Early Access to last approximately three months. This estimate may change based on development progress and community feedback.read 12 Sep 2026 | about 3 months | 3 days | 4% | On the clock3 months left | |
| Exo's CYOAExo's CYOA | The current plan is around 12 months. Exo's CYOA has already been in development for about a year before its initial Early Access release, and I expect to spend at least another year expanding and refining it. That said, this is a highly systemic and open-ended game, so the exact timing will depend on how development progresses and what feedback comes in. I want to leave Early Access when the game feels truly ready, not just when a fixed date is reached.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 4% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Dungeons And AnimalsDungeons And Animals | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately one year. During this time, we plan to continue improving the game and make it a better experience for our players.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 4% | On the clock12 months left | |
| 67 Simulator67 Simulator | We estimate 67 Simulator will remain in Early Access for approximately 6 to 7 months, depending on community feedback and development progress.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–7 months | 1 week | 4% | On the clock7 months left | |
| Withering RealmsWithering Realms | The game is planned to leave Early Access approximately in May 2027, alongside a release on consoles.read 12 Sep 2026 | 9 monthsuntil 31 May 2027 | 1 week | 3% | On the clock9 months left | |
| Nomën IpsaNomën Ipsa | We are giving ourselves roughly one year. The date of October 14th holds special meaning for us, as it's the day the first lines of code were written, and we'd be stoked to leave Early Access exactly on October 14th, 2026.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 3% | On the clock12 months left | |
| The Windzen LegendThe Windzen Legend | We have a one year roadmap before the game has all of the content that we envision for it. Ten floors of Ruins, four Sub-Gates, nine Pirate battles on the surface, three sets of NPC quest lines, and many other bits and bobs that will hopefully give The Windzen Legend a similar level of charm to the The Other Legend that it takes after. Game creation is a troublesome process so it's difficult to say if one year will be enough, but we work fast and we can iterate on our work even faster. It's possible that our schedule slips or our plans change, particularly as feedback starts coming in from gamers, but we don't believe it will take much more than a year to complete the game at the pace that we've been able to develop it thus far.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 3% | On the clock12 months left | |
| OpenSheet 3.5e SRDOpenSheet 3.5e SRD | We expect OpenSheet 3.5e SRD to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 to 18 months. This timeline may change as development progresses and as we continue improving the application based on community feedback.read 10 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 2 weeks | 3% | On the clock17 months left | |
| MergeCasterMergeCaster | Approximately six months. We plan to conclude the Early Access period in February 2027.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 5 days | 3% | On the clock6 months left | |
| RuinRuin | While we cannot provide an exact timeframe, we anticipate Ruin to remain in Early Access for approximately 3 more years. This extended period allows us to incorporate player feedback, refine features, and ensure a polished and immersive experience.read 12 Sep 2026 | about 3 years | 1 month | 3% | On the clock2 years 11 months left | |
| My Demonic Jungle QuestMy Demonic Jungle Quest | 6 months to 1 year.read 11 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 1 week | 3% | On the clock12 months left | |
| GrimveilGrimveil | 1-2 yearsread 10 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 2 weeks | 2% | On the clock23 months left | |
| Guilds of MountgateGuilds of Mountgate | We currently expect Guilds of Mountgate to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 to 18 months. This estimate may change depending on player feedback, the scope of upcoming systems, and the amount of testing and balancing required. We would rather give important features the time they need than rush the game toward Version 1.0 before it is ready. Development will continue throughout Early Access with regular updates, additional content, balancing changes, quality-of-life improvements, and larger system expansions.read 9 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 2 weeks | 2% | On the clock18 months left | |
| Wandering BardWandering Bard | We currently expect Early Access to last around 12 months, although development and community feedback may change that schedule. We plan to leave Early Access when the expanded modes, content and polish meet the standard we want for the full version.read 7 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 6 days | 2% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Not Quite Dead: Open World SurvivalNot Quite Dead: Open World Survival | 1 - 2 years.read 13 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 2 weeks | 2% | On the clock2 years left | |
| Between Adventures IDLEBetween Adventures IDLE | We currently expect Between Adventures IDLE to remain in Early Access for approximately one year. During this time, we plan to release several major updates that gradually add new activities, progression systems, acts, seasonal content, and the endgame. This timeline may change depending on development needs and player feedback. We will continue sharing roadmap updates so players can follow the game’s progress and see what we are working on next.read 13 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 5 days | 2% | On the clock12 months left | |
| 图灵证言图灵证言 | We expect the Early Access period to last approximately 6 to 12 months. The actual duration may change depending on player feedback, content development, and technical optimization. We plan to leave Early Access once the main storyline, gameplay systems, and overall experience have reached the level of quality we are aiming for.read 13 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 5 days | 2% | On the clock12 months left |
A game is in Early Access when the store lists it among its genres; the clock starts on the day the ledger saw it enter or, for a game that launched into Early Access, on the release date the store prints. The promise is the developer’s own questionnaire answer, kept word for word; only ranges and single figures are compared, open answers are listed as open, and answers the parser could not read say so. Graduations are recorded from 3 Sep 2026, so earlier years undercount them. A game whose questionnaire has not been read yet says “not read yet” under No promise (how). Data by SteamPeaks.com.