How long did they say Early Access would take, and how long has it been? · 1,796 in Early Access · 2,058 promises read · 700 announced, not started
| Year | Games | In Early Access now | Graduated | Median time in EA | Promise read | Overdue | Promise kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 954 | 945 | 91% | 1 month | 84789% | 24of 773 parsed | — |
| 2025 | 309 | 309 | 00% | 13 months | 25282% | 86of 210 parsed | — |
| 2024 | 164 | 164 | 00% | 2 years 1 month | 14186% | 81of 114 parsed | — |
| 2023 | 98 | 98 | 00% | 3 years 2 months | 8486% | 47of 67 parsed | — |
| 2022 | 65 | 65 | 00% | 4 years 2 months | 5686% | 35of 42 parsed | — |
| 2021 | 48 | 48 | 00% | 5 years 1 month | 3879% | 22of 30 parsed | — |
| 2020 | 41 | 41 | 00% | 6 years 1 month | 3688% | 16of 20 parsed | — |
| 2019 | 32 | 32 | 00% | 7 years 3 months | 32100% | 14of 17 parsed | — |
| 2018 | 19 | 19 | 00% | 8 years 1 month | 1789% | 9of 10 parsed | — |
| 2017 | 15 | 15 | 00% | 9 years 3 months | 1493% | 6of 8 parsed | — |
| Game | Promise | Promised | Elapsed | Clock | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Blacksmith Tycoon ~The Appraiser-Shopkeeper Conquers the Blacksmith Trade~Ultimate Blacksmith Tycoon ~The Appraiser-Shopkeeper Conquers the Blacksmith Trade~ | We estimate Early Access will last approximately 3 months as a baseline. This duration is not fixed - it will flexibly adjust based on the volume and nature of community feedback, the priorities for additional features, and the need for balance tuning. If the community wants us to "spend more time refining in this direction" or "wait for a specific feature before going to 1.0", we will prioritize those voices. Progress updates and roadmap changes will be shared transparently through monthly devlogs on Steam News.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 3 months | 3 months | 97% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Monster TavernMonster Tavern | 3-6 monthsread 9 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 6 months | 97% | On the clockDue this month | |
| What Is The GhostWhat Is The Ghost | 3–6 months so that new content, such as maps, can be properly tested and balanced.read 8 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 6 months | 93% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Way of the Hunter 2Way of the Hunter 2 | We currently expect Early Access to last half a year. Because development time heavily depends on the community feedback we receive, the real duration can vary.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 6 months | 92% | On the clockDue this month | |
| RiftborneRiftborne | The plan is for Early Access to last around 6 months. This may change depending on feedback and how development progresses, but the goal is to take the time needed to properly polish systems, balancing and expand features.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 5 months | 91% | On the clockDue this month | |
| 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 | 91% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Tung Tung Together: Online Deathrun PartyTung Tung Together: Online Deathrun Party | The game is planned to remain in Early Access for approximately 3–4 months. Throughout this period, Tung Tung Together will receive regular updates, including new maps, traps, gameplay improvements, and balance adjustments based on community feedback.read 7 Sep 2026 | 3–4 months | 4 months | 91% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Live TranslateLive Translate | We plan for Live Translate to remain in Early Access for approximately 90 days. During this period, we will actively gather user feedback to refine features and ensure the software's stability.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 3 months | 3 months | 90% | On the clockDue this month | |
| DeifiedDeified | We expect the game to be in Early Access for approximately 5 months.the store says it leaves Early Access on 21 Sep 2026 | about 5 months | 4 months | 89% | On the clockDue this month | |
| 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 26 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 5 months | 89% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Farmer's Dynasty 2Farmer's Dynasty 2 | The plan is to have a short Early Access period of up to 6 months. We already have a strong understanding of player desires and expectations from the previous game that we want to deliver on, while also assessing and integrating additional community feedback.read 8 Sep 2026 | 0–6 months | 5 months | 88% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Story Engine: No Script Story Engine: No Script | Roughly one month. It depends on the volume of player feedback and how many iteration rounds the prompts need. Prompt tuning has no true endpoint, but once we reach the point where most players are satisfied in most scenarios, we'll ship the full release.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 1 month | 4 weeks | 88% | On the clockDue this month | |
| FriedrichAI: Offline AI FriedrichAI: Offline AI | FriedrichAI is expected to leave Early Access and reach V1 in September 2026, barring any major issues discovered during final testing and polish.the store says it leaves Early Access on 16 Sep 2026 | 5 monthsuntil 30 Sep 2026 | 4 months | 87% | On the clockDue this month | |
| HYPNOSHYPNOS | 4 to 5 month ! We’ll publish the full Early Access roadmap here, but rest assured that we’ve planned for a fairly short duration: Four to five months maximum. This will allow us to complete the content for the final stages of this project, while also giving us time to take on board all the feedback we hope to receive during this period. There will already be plenty to keep you occupied for hours in these dreamlike lands that we are crafting with passion.read 6 Sep 2026 | 4–5 months | 4 months | 83% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Tamer: King of DinosaursTamer: King of Dinosaurs | We hope to finish production of Tamer: King of Dinosaurs by Q4 2026 (approximately 4 months post-EA launch), but if the community requests additional features we could realistically extend production until Q1 2027 to significantly change and improve the game.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 4 months | 3 months | 80% | On the clockDue this month | |
| Wallpaper AnimatorWallpaper Animator | 3 to 6 months. The core system is already working. This time will be used to improve quality, add new animation models, expand editing tools, and grow the community library. The timeline may adjust depending on progress and user feedback.read 9 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 5 months | 79% | On the clock1 month left | |
| He Maid Her FallHe Maid Her Fall | 8 monthsthe store says it leaves Early Access on 23 Nov 2026 | about 8 months | 6 months | 78% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Rectangle JumpRectangle Jump | I currently expect Rectangle Jump to be in Early Access for approximately one month. During this time, I will be finishing and polishing the remaining main levels and extra levels, fixing bugs, balancing the game, and making improvements based on player feedback. The exact length may change if additional development or testing is needed. I would rather extend Early Access if necessary than release the full version before it is ready.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 1 month | 3 weeks | 75% | On the clockDue this month | |
| TobianoTobiano | Tobiano is planned for full release around the fall of 2026.read 6 Sep 2026 | 9 monthsuntil 30 Nov 2026 | 7 months | 74% | On the clock2 months left | |
| 轻灵音乐轻灵音乐 | The expected duration is 3–6 months. The exact timeline will depend on development progress and the speed at which we integrate community feedback. Once the features reach a stable state, we will release the full version. We do not plan to stay in Early Access indefinitely.read 9 Sep 2026 | 3–6 months | 4 months | 72% | On the clock2 months left | |
| PlentifulPlentiful | The plan is to be in Early Access for 6 months or so.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 6 months | 4 months | 70% | On the clock2 months left | |
| War and PoliticsWar and Politics | The full version is scheduled to be released after approximately one year of early access. However, this may change due to development circumstances.the store says it leaves Early Access on 1 Jan 2027 | about 12 months | 8 months | 69% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Maximilian SpeeMaximilian Spee | I have plan to remain in Early Access for approximately 6–9 months. This timeframe allows me to expand content, refine balance, and incorporate player feedback while ensuring the quality and stability of the full release.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–9 months | 6 months | 69% | On the clock3 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 | |
| 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 | |
| StarRuptureStarRupture | We plan to make StarRupture stay in Early Access for about a year from its initial release. Our goal is to provide the best quality of the game to our players. We want to use the Early Access stage to cooperate with the Community on the feedback, fine-tune and polish the gameplay experience and - when we’re certain that we’ve achieved the best version of the game possible - leave Early Access.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 68% | On the clock4 months left | |
| AI Pals EngineAI Pals Engine | The plan is to release the full version one year after the Early Access launch. This timeline allows for delivering a polished and feature-rich experience that meets both standards and community expectations, while also providing time to continue refining the AI and ensure it remains state-of-the-art upon release. This timeline can be extended according to the needs of the user base.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 67% | 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 | 66% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Swords And Magic: Path Of ConquestSwords And Magic: Path Of Conquest | I plan to have Early Access for around a year, but it really depends on the state of game content. For instance, my roadmap may have EA last less than 1 year, but if some brilliant ideas emerge from the community and we all feel it is good to add them, then I will add them to the roadmap, which will make it last a bit longer.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 66% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Reborn: The Evil BeingReborn: The Evil Being | The current plan is for Reborn: The Evil Being to remain in Early Access for around 3-4 months before the Version 1.0 release. This may slightly change depending on feedback, balancing, optimization, and overall polish during development.read 8 Sep 2026 | 3–4 months | 3 months | 66% | On the clock1 month left | |
| Isekai Adventurer GuildIsekai Adventurer Guild | I’m aiming for the full release in the second half of 2026.read 9 Sep 2026 | 12 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 8 months | 66% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Touhou Rinrinki ~ Crafts of the Lucky BeastTouhou Rinrinki ~ Crafts of the Lucky Beast | For about a year, may vary depending on actual progress.read 9 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 65% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Mineral Mining SimulatorMineral Mining Simulator | We currently expect the game to remain in Early Access for around 4 to 6 months. However, this estimate may change depending on development progress, testing results, and feedback from the community. During Early Access, our focus is not only to finish the planned content, but also to evaluate several experimental features. We want to make sure these features feel enjoyable, work well with the overall gameplay, and are realistic for us to complete with the resources available.read 8 Sep 2026 | 4–6 months | 4 months | 65% | On the clock2 months left | |
| Finch & ArchieFinch & Archie | Finch & Archie will be in early access for about 1 year.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 8 months | 65% | On the clock4 months left | |
| LORTLORT | Our best estimate is about 1 year or less.read 5 Sep 2026 | 0–12 months | 8 months | 63% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Kittens GameKittens Game | The game should be released as a full version once Steam version is considered sufficiently stable and mature. There is currently no ETA, but it should be done somewhere in 2026.read 7 Sep 2026 | 11 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 7 months | 63% | On the clock4 months left | |
| MistboundMistbound | The final episode of Mistbound is planned for release in 2026.read 7 Sep 2026 | 9 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 6 months | 63% | On the clock3 months left | |
| R.I.P. - Reincarnation Insurance ProgramR.I.P. - Reincarnation Insurance Program | The Early Access period is expected to last between six and twelve months. The exact duration will depend largely on player feedback and on whether we have fully met the community’s expectations for the game.read 7 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 7 months | 62% | On the clock5 months left | |
| AdaptoryAdaptory | Right now I’m planning about one year to complete and polish the full version (see the roadmap), but this could change if the scope increases or if we have to revisit any major systems. The plan is to deliver at least three major content updates during this time so you’ll be able to test new systems and share your feedback.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 7 months | 62% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Really Fast RatReally Fast Rat | Less than one yearread 9 Sep 2026 | 0–12 months | 7 months | 62% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Moonshiner SimulatorMoonshiner Simulator | Around 6 months.the store says it leaves Early Access on 21 Oct 2026 | about 6 months | 4 months | 62% | On the clock2 months left | |
| COLLAPSE COMPANYCOLLAPSE COMPANY | We currently expect the Early Access period to last approximately 8 to 12 months. However, this timeframe may change depending on the scale of the systems we plan to implement and the amount of feedback we receive from players.read 9 Sep 2026 | 8–12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Moonlight DialogueMoonlight Dialogue | 3 Months.read 8 Sep 2026 | about 3 months | 2 months | 61% | On the clock1 month left | |
| Half SwordHalf Sword | We plan to remain in Early Access for 6 to 12 months.read 6 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Vampires: Bloodlord RisingVampires: Bloodlord Rising | Our plan is to stay in Early Access for roughly 12 months to implement all the features we have on our roadmap. This also allows us to incorporate the community feedback and finalize all elements before the full release. Depending on issues like performance optimization or bugfixing beyond the expected allocated time for that, the timing might be changed, though.read 5 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Ranch Store SimulatorRanch Store Simulator | Early Access phase is estimated to last about a year, although this timeline may be adjusted based on player feedback.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Touhou Blooming SoulTouhou Blooming Soul | est. 6-12 monthsread 8 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| MEAT TRAINMEAT TRAIN | 6-12 months. Maybe less if all goes well.read 9 Sep 2026 | 6–12 months | 7 months | 61% | On the clock5 months left | |
| Battle HanafudaBattle Hanafuda | We are aiming for a full release within 2026, although the exact timing may be adjusted to prioritize quality based on community feedback and ongoing development progress.read 8 Sep 2026 | 10 monthsuntil 31 Dec 2026 | 6 months | 60% | On the clock4 months left | |
| Megastore SimulatorMegastore Simulator | We expect the game to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 months, depending on community feedback and development priorities. Our goal is to use this period to expand content and features with the community's help, while also improving polish, balance, and overall stability before the full release.read 6 Sep 2026 | about 12 months | 7 months | 60% | On the clock5 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.