How long did they say Early Access would take, and how long has it been? · 3,183 in Early Access · 4,435 promises read · 1,400 announced, not started
| Year | Games | In Early Access now | Graduated | Median time in EA | Promise read | Overdue | Promise kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,348 | 1,314 | 343% | 2 months | 1,30597% | 57of 1,171 parsed | — |
| 2025 | 542 | 542 | 00% | 14 months | 51595% | 201of 443 parsed | — |
| 2024 | 283 | 283 | 00% | 2 years 1 month | 27296% | 166of 220 parsed | — |
| 2023 | 154 | 154 | 00% | 3 years 2 months | 14695% | 95of 122 parsed | — |
| 2022 | 103 | 103 | 00% | 4 years 2 months | 9895% | 61of 74 parsed | — |
| 2021 | 82 | 82 | 00% | 5 years 3 months | 7591% | 50of 60 parsed | — |
| 2020 | 68 | 68 | 00% | 6 years 2 months | 6799% | 39of 46 parsed | — |
| 2019 | 60 | 60 | 00% | 7 years 3 months | 60100% | 34of 37 parsed | — |
| 2018 | 52 | 52 | 00% | 8 years 3 months | 5096% | 37of 38 parsed | — |
| 2017 | 85 | 85 | 00% | 9 years 3 months | 8499% | 53of 56 parsed | — |
| Game | Promise | Promised | Elapsed | Clock | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NebulaNebula | I plan to finish the game in about 2 years.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 10 years 3 months | 514% | Overdueby 8 years 3 months | |
| Epic Fantasy Battle SimulatorEpic Fantasy Battle Simulator | Approximately 1 year.read 15 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 5 years 1 month | 505% | Overdueby 4 years 1 month | |
| Bot WarsBot Wars | The current timeframe would roughly be a year... theoretically.read 11 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 5 years | 502% | Overdueby 4 years | |
| Retro Football BossRetro Football Boss | The aim is to have a full release within nine months or as soon as it feels ready, both in terms of features, speed and stability. This is a game made by a passionate independent developer with just one coder, who has worked tirelessly for the last two years to get to this stage. Usually you would have a team of 20 or 30 working on a game of this nature, together with a small army of beta testers, so we think this proves how dedicated to the project we are. Making a football management game is the culmination of a life-long dream since we first played a game called World Soccer League on the C64, so we will not stop until it is as good as it can possibly be.read 15 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 10 years | 500% | Overdueby 8 years | |
| SpaeraSpaera | We are currently expecting our game to exit early access around Summer 2018 depending on how smoothly things go and the feedback we gather. Of course, if feedback determines that we need to make significant changes to the game, early access may last longer.read 14 Sep 2026 | 2 yearsuntil 31 Aug 2018 | 10 years | 500% | Overdueby 8 years | |
| Riding OutRiding Out | Mid 2018. Depending on the community wishes, the date can be different.read 14 Sep 2026 | 2 years 1 monthuntil 30 Jun 2018 | 10 years 4 months | 495% | Overdueby 8 years 3 months | |
| Push For EmorPush For Emor | I’m looking at another 6 months of development to deliver the full fun game I sat down to make 2 years ago. All the planet and space environments are in, so that just leaves the fun stuff. New npcs, missions, vehicles, spaceships and weapons. I have spent 2 years making Push For Emor and I want it to be blinging like a diamond studded, gold toothed smile when it is finally finished.read 14 Sep 2026 | 6–24 months | 9 years 11 months | 495% | Overdueby 7 years 11 months | |
| EmergeNYCEmergeNYC | Our plan is to be in Early Access for another 2 years or so until we have a solid game that is worth calling finished. This may change in case there are major features that we want to add, or funding that we may come across that will boost EmergeNYC's development. We believe that a game should always be updated with new and additional features and that is our plan.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 9 years 10 months | 493% | Overdueby 7 years 10 months | |
| ダンジョンアーティファクトダンジョンアーティファクト | We are planning on six months. We will mainly work on adjusting the game balance and aim to improve the quality in stages. However, the period may vary depending on the progress of development.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 2 years 5 months | 491% | Overdueby 23 months | |
| POLYGONPOLYGON | According to our estimates, POLYGON will remain in Early Access until mid-2021.read 5 Sep 2026 | 16 monthsuntil 30 Jun 2021 | 6 years 6 months | 490% | Overdueby 5 years 2 months | |
| 绞肉机绞肉机 | Our goal is to complete the game within the next three to six months. However, this timeline may be adjusted based on player feedback and any necessary enhancements to enrich the game experience.read 8 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 2 years 5 months | 488% | Overdueby 23 months | |
| AGP::EpicaAGP::Epica | 2 years total. As of June 2017: 6 months in and development is on track, 18 months remaining. This is to provide the most polished game upon release possible, with the most amount of development and provide players with a product which is feature complete (again, armour missing currently), and a fully flushed out skill tree.read 12 Sep 2026 | 6–24 months | 9 years 9 months | 487% | Overdueby 7 years 9 months | |
| Raptor TerritoryRaptor Territory | We plan that the game is for around 1 year in early access. It also depends on your feedback, we love to discuss your ideas and decide if they make it into the game!read 14 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years 10 months | 479% | Overdueby 3 years 10 months | |
| Robots In The WildRobots In The Wild | Now that I have a solid foundation of systems for Robots In The Wild all that is left to create is more content. I predict it will take me 2 years to complete my goal of an additional 60 planets, around 20 Robots, and around 30 Monsters.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 9 years 7 months | 479% | Overdueby 7 years 7 months | |
| Never MournNever Mourn | The early access should last at least a few months. How long exactly is something we can't have a clear perspective on right now. That being said, it is important to say that we don't want the early access dragging on for years with a lot of unifinished features hanging around and no clear perspective on release.read 12 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 2 years 4 months | 469% | Overdueby 22 months | |
| Impossible IslandImpossible Island | The duration of early access will depend on what players want, but it is planned to stay in early access for about 6 months.read 13 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 2 years 4 months | 469% | Overdueby 22 months | |
| SQUIRMISH: The Videogame of Brawling BeastiesSQUIRMISH: The Videogame of Brawling Beasties | As long as a piece of string." - Betty Ross, High School English Teacher It should be around six months with the wind at our backs... but it could run a little longer.read 15 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 2 years 4 months | 468% | Overdueby 22 months | |
| Movie NightMovie Night | I expect this game to be in early access between 6-12 months and hope to complete the release by early 2023. This time frame may change but it is what I aim for.read 15 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 4 years 8 months | 463% | Overdueby 3 years 8 months | |
| Pixel FodderPixel Fodder | End of 2017read 12 Sep 2026 | 2 years 5 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2017 | 11 years 2 months | 462% | Overdueby 8 years 9 months | |
| PILGRIMPILGRIM | Approximately 5-6 months. The plan is to fine tune the game, add new areas, develop monsters, items and more and then to flesh out end game content.read 15 Sep 2026 | 5–6 months | 2 years 4 months | 459% | Overdueby 22 months | |
| The WILDSThe WILDS | Early access is expected to last one years time, which should mark the completion of the games first Biome.read 12 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years 7 months | 458% | Overdueby 3 years 7 months | |
| PutridnessPutridness | About a year. Planned to release 3 independent scenarios will be released with different plots and locations, each subsequent one will be in a slightly different genre, as well as longer in duration, but nothing will stop from creating new scenarios.read 10 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years 7 months | 457% | Overdueby 3 years 7 months | |
| Starwalker - Into the CylinderStarwalker - Into the Cylinder | Starwalker will stay in early access for several months the game goes into full-release.read 12 Sep 2026 | 3–9 months | 3 years 4 months | 450% | Overdueby 2 years 7 months | |
| Guided Meditation VRGuided Meditation VR | Our goal is to leave early access in late 2018.read 12 Sep 2026 | 2 years 3 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2018 | 9 years 11 months | 442% | Overdueby 7 years 8 months | |
| 退休模拟器退休模拟器 | We plan to gradually introduce major updates to Retirement Simulator with new wish routes, new gameplay, and the choice of playing as a female protagonist over at least 12 months or so in the future. Since there is still room for optimization in the game, we will still update the game after the initial 12 months, with the priority of improving the player's experience.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years 5 months | 441% | Overdueby 3 years 5 months | |
| Traxion 3000Traxion 3000 | We expect Traxion 3000 to be in Early Access for 3-4 Months, depending on the amount of multiplayer content to be developed based on community feedback.read 12 Sep 2026 | 3–4 months | 18 months | 439% | Overdueby 14 months | |
| Artificial Gravity CatArtificial Gravity Cat | 6 months.read 11 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 2 years 2 months | 435% | Overdueby 20 months | |
| SlashvivalSlashvival | We estimate that the game it will still be in Early Access for about one and a half years. This timeframe will allow us to gather feedback, implement new features, and polish the game based on player input.read 15 Sep 2026 | about 18 months | 6 years 6 months | 433% | Overdueby 5 years | |
| 69 Summon Succubus69 Summon Succubus | It depends on how much content the players want. We offer the game for another 12 months fixing bugs and adding new content.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years 4 months | 433% | Overdueby 3 years 4 months | |
| Maze DungeonMaze Dungeon | I want to release the game as a complete game as soon as possible. I plan to release version 1.0 within a year.read 8 Sep 2026 | 0–12 months | 4 years 4 months | 433% | Overdueby 3 years 4 months | |
| DungeonborneDungeonborne | The duration of the Early Access period hinges primarily on the communities feedback. To enhance the quality of the game, we plan to run Early Access for approximately 3-6 months, during which we'll focus on various optimizations. Future Early Access updates will be more refined and targeted. We'll continue to listen to feedback and improve the core experience of the game, aiming to deliver a satisfying final product. Based on the progress of development, we will ultimately determine whether to extend Early Access or transition to an official release.read 11 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 2 years 2 months | 433% | Overdueby 20 months | |
| Fenrisulfr PuzzleFenrisulfr Puzzle | Need to look at the specific development of the case may be one to two years, the above is expected time,The actual completion time shall prevail.read 13 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 8 years 7 months | 429% | Overdueby 6 years 7 months | |
| Break_InBreak_In | Hard to say, aiming to leave early access by the end of 2017.read 11 Sep 2026 | 2 years 8 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2017 | 11 years 5 months | 427% | Overdueby 8 years 9 months | |
| Marble RaceMarble Race | Summer 2020read 15 Sep 2026 | 23 monthsuntil 31 Aug 2020 | 7 years 11 months | 414% | Overdueby 6 years | |
| SailSail | 8 - 12 months. But we will take as much time as necessary to make SAIL the VR pirate game it needs to be.read 7 Sep 2026 | 8–12 months | 4 years 1 month | 410% | Overdueby 3 years 1 month | |
| HexaverseHexaverse | A year or two. Depends on many factors that are hard to predict.read 14 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 8 years 1 month | 404% | Overdueby 6 years 1 month | |
| OneKindOneKind | We think Early Access will last 6 months. The exact time may vary depending on the development process, but we will be sure to keep you updated throughout the entire process.read 14 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 2 years | 402% | Overdueby 18 months | |
| Boom SlingersBoom Slingers | We aim to have the full release ready in approximately 6 months to one year.read 7 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 4 years | 400% | Overdueby 3 years | |
| Under ContractUnder Contract | We aim to be in Early Access for 6-10 months depending on user feedback for the game.read 14 Sep 2026 | 6–10 months | 3 years 4 months | 400% | Overdueby 2 years 6 months | |
| RUMBLERUMBLE | Could be up to a year, maybe longer. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be updates within that time, on the contrary. We intend to gradually build the game up to a full release, updating it with individual additions as time goes on.read 14 Sep 2026 | 0–12 months | 4 years | 398% | Overdueby 3 years | |
| There Won't be LightThere Won't be Light | We intend to keep it for 1 year in Early Access.read 7 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 years | 398% | Overdueby 3 years | |
| Dino ScourgeDino Scourge | Q1 2020read 12 Sep 2026 | 2 years 3 monthsuntil 31 Mar 2020 | 8 years 9 months | 389% | Overdueby 6 years 6 months | |
| Epic Auto TowersEpic Auto Towers | Probably around 4 to 6 months, but it will also depend on whether you and I want to make more Tower Packs. If we want to make more than three Pack, it will probably take longer.read 15 Sep 2026 | 4–6 months | 22 months | 367% | Overdueby 16 months | |
| Super Powered Battle FriendsSuper Powered Battle Friends | We estimate that Super Powered Battle Friends will remain in Early Access for 1-2 years to complete the full release with all of the planned content.read 15 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 7 years 4 months | 367% | Overdueby 5 years 4 months | |
| RPG ArchitectRPG Architect | Update: RPG Architect is planning to release into "1.0" and exit Early Access sometime in 2026! All of the features that were planned have been completed. Along the way, many features that were unexpected (but good) were added to the roadmap. Thus, it has taken substantially longer to get to 1.0. The community's feedback has greatly shaped the direction we ended up going! The "final" thing to do for 1.0 is to build out documentation for offline (and online) use, as well as build three 1.0 games that will let me, the sole developer, double check that the "workflow" is as good as it can be. Both tasks are already underway. But don't worry -- RPG Architect won't stop developing after 1.0 -- there are tons of planned features every year (for the next decade), as long as the community keeps requesting them (and are reasonable). The updates will likely slow down a bit for the sake of providing SOME stability. Original: Based on our current roadmap and progress, RPG Architect is aiming to be in Early Access for one year. The goal is to solidify, harden, and expand all of our existing features, as well as add a few others. Ultimately, it's going to be done when user feedback indicates that it is feature complete and worth the full price tag.read 12 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 3 years 8 months | 365% | Overdueby 2 years 8 months | |
| WhiskaraWhiskara | As of 21st of May, 2025, the development of Whiskara has been placed on indefinite holdread 8 Sep 2026 | 6 monthsuntil 21 May 2025 | 22 months | 364% | Overdueby 16 months | |
| SpaceEngineSpaceEngine | Our goal is to leave Early Access within 1-2 years.read 5 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 7 years 3 months | 363% | Overdueby 5 years 3 months | |
| MONEY LOVES SILENCEMONEY LOVES SILENCE | The release is planned for the end of 2020 or the end of 2021, I find it difficult to say the exact date of the final version of the game.Development speed depends on many factors, such as the number of sales and the interest of the players in my game. If I get support from the players, I can devote more time to the project,and get the opportunity to attract more developers to the game.read 14 Sep 2026 | 22 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2021 | 6 years 7 months | 358% | Overdueby 4 years 9 months | |
| ZortZort | We aim to release the game from early access within a few months. We plan to make many updates to the game during this period.read 5 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 21 months | 355% | Overdueby 15 months | |
| Parasite BlackParasite Black | The game is planned to be in development for several years, as we aim to expand the world significantly. However, if necessary, we could wrap up production in a few months and the game would still feel complete as it is several hours long already. That said, our primary goal is to create a vast, immersive world, so we intend to continue development until our full vision is realized and something unique is created.read 15 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 21 months | 354% | Overdueby 15 months |
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.