How long did they say Early Access would take, and how long has it been? · 2,095 in Early Access · 2,614 promises read · 890 announced, not started
| Year | Games | In Early Access now | Graduated | Median time in EA | Promise read | Overdue | Promise kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,054 | 1,041 | 131% | 1 month | 96692% | 31of 877 parsed | — |
| 2025 | 385 | 385 | 00% | 13 months | 33587% | 126of 291 parsed | — |
| 2024 | 187 | 187 | 00% | 2 years 1 month | 16588% | 98of 133 parsed | — |
| 2023 | 107 | 107 | 00% | 3 years 2 months | 9387% | 54of 74 parsed | — |
| 2022 | 76 | 76 | 00% | 4 years 2 months | 6788% | 43of 51 parsed | — |
| 2021 | 50 | 50 | 00% | 5 years 1 month | 4182% | 23of 31 parsed | — |
| 2020 | 43 | 43 | 00% | 6 years 1 month | 3888% | 18of 22 parsed | — |
| 2019 | 40 | 40 | 00% | 7 years 3 months | 40100% | 20of 23 parsed | — |
| 2018 | 21 | 21 | 00% | 8 years 1 month | 1990% | 10of 11 parsed | — |
| 2017 | 19 | 19 | 00% | 9 years 3 months | 1895% | 8of 10 parsed | — |
| Game | Promise | Promised | Elapsed | Clock | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhasmophobiaPhasmophobia | The current plan is to get to a full release in the second half of 2026 however this may change depending on features added and how the game will progress through early access.read 10 Sep 2026 | 6 years 3 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 6 years | 96% | On the clock3 months left | |
| Sync Or SinkSync Or Sink | We plan for the Early Access phase to last around 6 to 12 months. This timeframe should allow us to test core mechanics, refine the experience, and respond to community feedback before moving toward a full release.read 9 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 11 months | 95% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Nuclear NightmareNuclear Nightmare | We would like Nuclear Nightmare to be out of early access 2 years after the initial release date.read 7 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 23 months | 94% | On the clock1 month left | |
| What Is The GhostWhat Is The Ghost | 3–6 months so that new content, such as maps, can be properly tested and balanced.read 10 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 6 months | 94% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Ghost ExileGhost Exile | It all depends on the pace of development and the number of ideas from the community. According to preliminary data, we plan to end early access at the end of 2026.read 5 Sep 2026 | 5 yearsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 4 years 8 months | 94% | On the clock4 months left | |
| I Know a Guy: Shady Life SimulatorI Know a Guy: Shady Life Simulator | Our plan is to stay in Early Access for about 3 to 6 months. During that time, we’ll expand the open world, add new NPCs and missions, upgrade gameplay mechanics, and polish the humor and voice acting. The goal is to make sure every feature feels exactly as ridiculous - and completed - as intended.the store says it leaves Early Access on 25 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 5 months | 89% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Wild WoodsWild Woods | We expect Early Access to last until approximately winter 2025/2026. The exact duration of Early Access is hard to predict though, since we are a very small team and we plan to significantly let the community’s feedback influence our development from here on.read 10 Sep 2026 | 2 years 1 monthuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 21 months | 84% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Schedule ISchedule I | Schedule I will be in early access for approximately 2 years.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 18 months | 73% | On the clock6 months left | |
| Drunkard SimulatorDrunkard Simulator | I'm aiming to release 1.0 version in 2026, but I'll prioritize a properly aged brew over some rushed garbage.read 6 Sep 2026 | 11 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 7 months | 68% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Scam LineScam Line | Approximately one yearthe store says it leaves Early Access on 2 Nov 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 67% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Moonshiner SimulatorMoonshiner Simulator | Around 6 months.the store says it leaves Early Access on 21 Oct 2026 | about 6 months | 4 months | 63% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Guinea Pig Runaway TogetherGuinea Pig Runaway Together | Approximately 3-6 months. We have a clear roadmap and the core game is already feature-complete. Early Access will focus on polish, additional content, and community-driven improvements.the store says it leaves Early Access on 27 Oct 2026 | 3–6 months | 3 months | 55% | On the clock3 months left | |
| YondelYondel | We currently expect Early Access to last around 12–18 months, depending on development progress and community feedback.read 8 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 9 months | 51% | On the clock9 months left | |
| Goblin CleanupGoblin Cleanup | We plan to finish the game within the next 24 months. With that in mind, it will remain in Early Access until we are satisfied. It depends on the community's reaction and how we feel about the game’s progressread 5 Sep 2026 | about 2 years | 12 months | 49% | On the clock12 months left | |
| MacabreMacabre | We currently expect to remain in Early Access for up to two years. This gives us room to expand content and refine systems while continuing to improve the foundation with real player input. The timeline may change depending on progress and feedback, but our focus will remain on delivering a strong, replayable experience throughout.read 10 Sep 2026 | 0–24 months | 12 months | 48% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Sixth ForceSixth Force | Our current expectation is that Sixth Force will stay in Early Access for around 3 to 6 months. This may change depending on development progress, player feedback, testing, and the amount of additional content and polish needed before we feel the game is ready for a full release.read 11 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 3 months | 44% | On the clock3 months left | |
| SaveSync: Co-op Save Sharing Made EasySaveSync: Co-op Save Sharing Made Easy | We anticipate SaveSync will leave Early Access around Q4 2027, once we’ve expanded support to a broad range of co-op titles, refined performance, and incorporated community feedback.read 11 Sep 2026 | 2 years 3 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2027 | 12 months | 43% | On the clock15 months left | |
| Anomaly CompanyAnomaly Company | I strive to complete the game within 1 to 2 years. This timeline depends on the feedback I receive from players and my own satisfaction with the game’s development.read 11 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 7 months | 30% | On the clock17 months left | |
| OxyRailOxyRail | The Early Access phase is expected to last between 12 and 24 months. We adhere to the principle of wanting the full release to deliver astounding content to our players. While maintaining quality, we will develop at full efficiency to create as much engaging content as possible. Conditions permitting, we hope to reach the full release swiftly, but never at the expense of quality.read 10 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 7 months | 28% | On the clock17 months left | |
| Slay the Spire 2Slay the Spire 2 | Until the game feels great! Last time we thought it would be about a year and it took about 1.5 years. So perhaps in the same 1 - 2 year range.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 6 months | 26% | On the clock18 months left | |
| Keep It ContainedKeep It Contained | We currently expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately six months. This timeline may change depending on community feedback and the progress of development, but our goal is to deliver regular updates throughout the Early Access period.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 1 month | 19% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Forest Escape: Last TrainForest Escape: Last Train | The current plan is to get to a full release in the first half of 2027 however this may change depending on community feedback and how the game will progress through early access.read 9 Sep 2026 | 12 monthsuntil 30 Jun 2027 | 2 months | 17% | On the clock10 months left | |
| The Money PitThe Money Pit | Around 5-6 months if everything goes well.read 6 Sep 2026 | 5–6 months | 1 month | 17% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Mafia Life SimulatorMafia Life Simulator | We currently expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately 6 to 12 months. During this period, we plan to refine existing features and evaluate community feedback as development continues.read 8 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 2 months | 16% | On the clock10 months left | |
| Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue CoreDeep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core | We expect Rogue Core to be in Early Access for 18 to 24 months.read 11 Sep 2026 | 18–24 months | 4 months | 16% | On the clock20 months left | |
| Tears of MetalTears of Metal | We are planning for Tears of Metal to be in Early Access for 4 to 12 months, depending on feedback from players.read 8 Sep 2026 | 4–12 months | 2 months | 14% | On the clock10 months left | |
| Dirty BusinessDirty Business | We plan to stay in Early Access for around 1 year while we continue adding planned content and refining the game.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 months | 14% | On the clock10 months left | |
| HoleyHoley | I plan to keep my game in early access for approximately 6 months.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 3 weeks | 13% | On the clock5 months left | |
| The Crimson ContractThe Crimson Contract | Roughly one to two years. We are pacing the remaining five Quarantine Zone Acts at least three months apart, with smaller social, customization, and content updates landing between them.read 7 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 3 months | 11% | On the clock21 months left | |
| Backrooms Lost RunnersBackrooms Lost Runners | We currently estimate that Backrooms Lost Runners may remain in Early Access for about 1 to 3 years. This timeframe may change depending on development progress, player feedback, technical challenges, and the amount of polish and content we decide to work on during Early Access.read 10 Sep 2026 | 12–36 months | 3 months | 8% | On the clock2 years 9 months left | |
| V.A.U.L.T. PROTOCOLV.A.U.L.T. PROTOCOL | Our current goal is to keep the game in Early Access for approximately 6–9 months. During this time, we plan to evaluate community feedback and continue improving the game through additional content, gameplay balancing, performance optimizations, and quality-of-life improvements. The duration and scope of development may change depending on community feedback and the overall development process.read 8 Sep 2026 | 6–9 months | 3 weeks | 8% | On the clock8 months left | |
| Neon TyrantNeon Tyrant | We expect around 6 to 12 months. The game is content-complete as a core experience today; how long we stay in Early Access depends on how much the community's feedback reshapes balance, content and features. We would rather leave Early Access with a game the community signed off on than rush a date.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 3 weeks | 7% | On the clock11 months left | |
| Fuel CellFuel Cell | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately 6–12 months. This timeline may adjust depending on feature development, polish requirements, and community feedback. Regular updates are planned throughout Early Access.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 2 weeks | 5% | On the clock11 months left | |
| Inferno ProtocolInferno Protocol | Roughly 9-12 months. We'll adjust this based on the feedback we get.read 8 Sep 2026 | 9–12 months | 2 weeks | 4% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Exit WaysExit Ways | We currently project that Exit Ways will remain in Early Access for approximately 6 to 12 months. During this period, our primary focus will be on balancing, performance polishing, and feature development.read 10 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 4 days | 1% | 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.