How long did they say Early Access would take, and how long has it been? · 1,672 in Early Access · 1,823 promises read · 620 announced, not started
| Year | Games | In Early Access now | Graduated | Median time in EA | Promise read | Overdue | Promise kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 905 | 897 | 81% | 1 month | 78787% | 17of 717 parsed | — |
| 2025 | 292 | 292 | 00% | 13 months | 23480% | 80of 194 parsed | — |
| 2024 | 153 | 153 | 00% | 2 years | 12984% | 72of 104 parsed | — |
| 2023 | 91 | 91 | 00% | 3 years 1 month | 7785% | 43of 61 parsed | — |
| 2022 | 58 | 58 | 00% | 4 years 2 months | 4781% | 30of 37 parsed | — |
| 2021 | 42 | 42 | 00% | 5 years 3 months | 3071% | 18of 22 parsed | — |
| 2020 | 39 | 39 | 00% | 6 years 2 months | 3487% | 14of 18 parsed | — |
| 2019 | 28 | 28 | 00% | 7 years 3 months | 28100% | 12of 15 parsed | — |
| 2018 | 16 | 16 | 00% | 8 years 1 month | 1488% | 7of 8 parsed | — |
| 2017 | 13 | 13 | 00% | 9 years 3 months | 1292% | 5of 7 parsed | — |
| Game | Promise | Promised | Elapsed | Clock | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortune's RunFortune's Run | At the speed we are currently working, we expect to be finished with the full version by the end of 2026. Since that is far into the future, we've decided to structure the game as standalone chronological missions so that you can enjoy regular updates instead of having to wait three more years to play the full version. We will also be live-patching the game with bug fixes and smaller features throughout the year, of course! You can see our track record on the demo, which is usually patched within the week when bugs are found.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 3 years | 2 years 11 months | 98% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Escape ConditionEscape Condition | I estimate leaving Early Access by fall 2026. 1.0 is planned for 8/21/26 and will include the foundational 3 missions. New testers are being brought in to give feedback on the game's latest iteration which has made world impacts more severe, simplified the RPG mechanics, and vastly improved graphics and sound design.read 6 Sep 2026 | 3 years 4 monthsuntil 30 Nov 2026 | 3 years 2 months | 94% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Beyond Enemy Lines - VietnamBeyond Enemy Lines - Vietnam | We’re aiming for around 2 to 4 months in Early Access. This may change depending on player feedback and how development progresses.read 8 Sep 2026 | 2–4 months | 4 months | 90% | On the clockDue this month | |
| WitchfireWitchfire | As of this update (July 2026 - 0.9), we are 85% content complete and have released seven major content updates during the Early Access period, with plans to launch 1.0 in late Q4 2026. The game is not just a product to us - it’s a labor of love that some of us have been crafting for the better part of a decade. We care about it greatly and prioritize its quality on all fronts, which requires time and attention - we closely follow your feedback while testing the game ourselves, and we’re grateful for your enthusiasm and patience. To deliver something truly special, however, we need time - hence the launch window has been set for Q4 2026.read 7 Sep 2026 | 2 years 3 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 2 years | 87% | On the clock3 months left | |
| FREEFLOWFREEFLOW | Currently, the game is planned to stay in Early Access until around December of 2026. However this date could change at any point in the future.read 8 Sep 2026 | 2 years 2 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 22 months | 84% | On the clock4 months left | |
| The Other SideThe Other Side | Our goal is to reach a full release sometime in late 2026, but we’re not rushing it. We want to make sure every update feels meaningful and polished, so that timeline could shift as we expand features and respond to feedback along the way.read 5 Sep 2026 | 22 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 18 months | 82% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Chronicle Archive - JapanChronicle Archive - Japan | Our goal is to fully release *Chronicle Archive - Japan* by the **next year sometime**, but we’re committed to delivering the best experience possible and will strive to complete it even earlier if feasible. Your feedback during Early Access will play a crucial role in helping us refine the game and reach this milestone.read 8 Sep 2026 | 21 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 17 months | 81% | On the clock4 months left | |
| PIONERPIONER | One year approximately.read 5 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 9 months | 73% | On the clock3 months left | |
| Abyss VeilAbyss Veil | It really depends on how much time I can put into it. Worst case, the full game should be done by the end of 2026 (hopefully sooner).read 8 Sep 2026 | 14 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 10 months | 70% | On the clock4 months left | |
| No Man's HomeNo Man's Home | I am planning to reach to a full release state in Q4 2026. This date can change.read 7 Sep 2026 | 13 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 9 months | 68% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Backrooms Game CreatorBackrooms Game Creator | Till Oct 2026read 8 Sep 2026 | 5 monthsuntil 31 Oct 2026 | 3 months | 68% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Incursion Red RiverIncursion Red River | Our target is for Incursion Red River to be in Early Access for 3-4 years. This target was estimated with our current rate of progress, estimated budget, and team size. We hope going into Early Access may accelerate the timeline through financial support.read 8 Sep 2026 | 36–48 months | 2 years 5 months | 60% | On the clock19 months left | |
| Project SilverfishProject Silverfish | Hopefully the full game will be ready to release within 2 years after Early Access launch, give or take.read 5 Sep 2026 | 0–24 months | 14 months | 60% | On the clock10 months left | |
| Toaster ArenaToaster Arena | The game has a deadline for November 2027 however, playtesting and user experience comes first and if the game needs time for improvements, polish and bug fixes. The release date will be pushed back if the quality of our product does not meet player expectations.read 8 Sep 2026 | 2 years 10 monthsuntil 30 Nov 2027 | 20 months | 58% | On the clock14 months left | |
| ASTRALASTRAL | ASTRAL intends to remain in Early Access until we’re confident it meets our quality standards and delivers a complete experience. Depending on progress, we intend to aim for full release around Q4 2026 / Q1 2027. This remains contingent on community feedback and our velocity in refining gameplay, adding content, and polishing the title.read 7 Sep 2026 | 14 monthsuntil 31 Mar 2027 | 7 months | 52% | On the clock7 months left | |
| Out of ActionOut of Action | Roughly 12–18 months. That may change depending on development progress and feedback.read 8 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 8 months | 42% | On the clock10 months left | |
| Gray Zone WarfareGray Zone Warfare | Gray Zone Warfare is a long-term project that will continue to evolve until we deliver the ultimate gaming experience. We will release regular updates featuring new content, expanding world-building, adding new weapons and gear, unveiling new quests and environmental storytelling, as well as optimizing and fixing bugs before concluding the Early Access phase. The approximate timeline may span several years, depending on community feedback and the fulfillment of our shared vision.read 7 Sep 2026 | 36–72 months | 2 years 4 months | 39% | On the clock3 years 8 months left | |
| Far Far WestFar Far West | Currently, we are planning for a 12-month Early Access period.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 months | 37% | On the clock8 months left | |
| NO BACKUPNO BACKUP | I expect the game to remain in Early Access for around 6 to 12 months, depending on community feedback and development progress. I won’t rush. I'll take the time needed to deliver the level of quality and content the game deserves.read 5 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 4 months | 34% | On the clock8 months left | |
| Halls of NyarlathotepHalls of Nyarlathotep | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for about a year, possibly a little longer. This timeline allows us to expand content, polish core systems, and integrate community feedback to deliver a complete and refined experience.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 4 months | 32% | On the clock8 months left | |
| Red Tears: AngolaRed Tears: Angola | Atleast 1 year. I plan to release patches and updates to the game as much as I can (Roughly every week or few months).read 7 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 3 months | 29% | On the clock9 months left | |
| RuneblightRuneblight | Our target full release is late 2027/early 2028.read 7 Sep 2026 | 2 years 2 monthsuntil 31 Mar 2028 | 7 months | 26% | On the clock19 months left | |
| Deadline EscapeDeadline Escape | We estimate the game will remain in Early Access for roughly 1 to 2 years, depending on feedback and development progress.read 7 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 6 months | 24% | On the clock18 months left | |
| Sudden Attack Zero PointSudden Attack Zero Point | We currently plan to remain in Early Access for approximately 6 months. During this period, we will actively incorporate community feedback before transitioning to the official release.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 1 month | 23% | On the clock5 months left | |
| '83'83 | We intend the game to be in Early Access until mid-to-late 2027 with regular updates happening during this period. We’ll also aim to trial new biomes and maps alongside new gameplay mechanics, new vehicles and new weapons. Whilst doing this, we plan to continue the optimisation process, improving the gameplay experience for players with all kinds of systems.read 7 Sep 2026 | 20 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2027 | 5 months | 23% | On the clock15 months left | |
| EMPULSEEMPULSE | We expect EMPULSE to be in Early Access for 9-12 months. The exact timeline depends on player feedback and how quickly we can refine movement, maps, core systems and deliver the game our players want. Our goal is to move to full release once the gameplay feel, content, and stability meet both our standards and that of our players.read 8 Sep 2026 | 9–12 months | 3 months | 21% | On the clock9 months left | |
| Blood ReaverBlood Reaver | We expect Blood Reaver to remain in Early Access for approximately 1–2 years, depending on development progress and feedback during development.read 8 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 5 months | 20% | On the clock19 months left | |
| ASHWAKEASHWAKE | ASHWAKE is a long-term solo developed project, and it's hard to say exactly how long it will take to gather player feedback, refine combat, develop the story & atmosphere, and if possible, implement modding systems. The current estimate for Early Access is around 2-4 years, but this could change depending on the size of the development team in the future. Currently, the game is being developed by a solo creator. The game is expected to leave Early Access once the story is complete and all mechanics are fully functional, with no major game breaking bugs or issues. For more details on the game's development, please refer to the official roadmap and social channels in the Discord.read 8 Sep 2026 | 24–48 months | 9 months | 20% | On the clock3 years 3 months left | |
| Last PlanetLast Planet | Early Access is planned to last approximately 24 to 36 months, depending on community feedback and the adjustments required to achieve the game’s final vision.the store says it leaves Early Access on 31 Dec 2029 | 24–36 months | 7 months | 19% | On the clock2 years 5 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 8 Sep 2026 | 18–24 months | 4 months | 15% | On the clock20 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 | 15% | On the clock10 months left | |
| Kill the Man in the HouseKill the Man in the House | Approximately six months.read 5 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 4 weeks | 15% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Road to VostokRoad to Vostok | Road to Vostok is a long-term project, and a rough estimate for how long the game will be in Early Access is approximately 2–4 years. However, this estimate depends on multiple factors that cannot yet be determined. In terms of content, the game will leave Early Access once all planned features are implemented and the game is fully replayable. These planned features are categorized into different builds and updates, which players can track using the in-game roadmap available on the main menu. All planned features and upcoming builds until the full launch will be free and shared roughly quarterly with everyone who has purchased the Early Access version of the game.read 5 Sep 2026 | 24–48 months | 5 months | 11% | On the clock3 years 7 months left | |
| SCP: ReEnterSCP: ReEnter | We currently plan for the game to be in Early Access for approximately 12 months. This timeline may change depending on the scope of new features and the valuable feedback we receive from the community.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 1 month | 9% | On the clock11 months left | |
| DuelgroundsDuelgrounds | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately 3–5 months. However, the exact duration may vary depending on community feedback, feature development, and the overall progress of the project.read 6 Sep 2026 | 3–5 months | 2 weeks | 8% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Dot ClickerDot Clicker | Since the Early Access period for Dot Clicker will be mostly based on the demands and requests of the aiming community, we can't tell how long this is going to take since for similar games this took years before. Though, with Dot Clicker, we aim to fully listen to the community and also learn from similar games in order to make the Early Access period go as smoothly and as fast as possible. We currently expect Dot Clicker to remain in Early Access for approximately 9-12 months.read 6 Sep 2026 | 9–12 months | 4 weeks | 7% | On the clock11 months left | |
| Nazi ZombiesNazi Zombies | This game will be in early access for approximately 1-2 years.read 7 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 1 month | 6% | On the clock23 months left | |
| Backrooms Manager - TogetherBackrooms Manager - Together | We currently expect Backrooms Manager - Together to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 to 18 months. This estimate may change depending on development progress, player feedback, and the amount of content we decide to add before the full release.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 4 weeks | 5% | On the clock17 months left | |
| FIRE STATEFIRE STATE | We anticipate FIRE STATE will be in Early Access for approximately 12 to 24 months. The exact duration will depend on development progress and community feedback, as our goal is to achieve an ideal level of completeness and quality for the full release.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 1 month | 5% | On the clock23 months left | |
| BEATSHIFT ARENABEATSHIFT ARENA | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for roughly 12–24 months. This timeframe allows core systems, balance, progression, and content pipelines to mature through real player feedback and live iteration. Development will remain active throughout Early Access, and the timeline may shift as systems evolve and the scope becomes clearer, but the goal is a stable, well-tested foundation before full release.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–24 months | 4 weeks | 4% | On the clock23 months left | |
| アバタークエスト オンラインアバタークエスト オンライン | We expect to be in Early Access for roughly 12 months, and we are aiming to leave Early Access around the end of 2027. Game development can be unpredictable, so this estimate may shift depending on our progress and on the feedback we receive from players.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 2 weeks | 3% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Last Light: SurvivalLast Light: Survival | We expect Last Light: Survival to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 to 18 months. This timeframe allows us to steadily expand the game with new content, features, and improvements while carefully incorporating player feedback and ensuring overall stability and quality. Development progress may vary depending on community input and testing results, but our focus is on delivering a polished and complete full release rather than rushing the process.read 6 Sep 2026 | 12–18 months | 1 week | 2% | On the clock18 months left | |
| The Last ShootoutThe Last Shootout | 6 months up to a year. It'll be enough time to polish the game further, add more features, more maps, more characters etc.read 7 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 5 days | 1% | On the clock12 months left | |
| Infected EscapedInfected Escaped | About 2 to 3 yearsread 8 Sep 2026 | 24–36 months | 2 weeks | 1% | On the clock3 years 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 8 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 2 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.