The rise of Early Access games on PC has been controversial to say the very least. Developers give players early access to a game, and in-turn, get money up front for a project that has yet to be completed. It’s beginning to look like both Microsoft and Sony have plans for early access on the PS4 and Xbox One.
Numerous reports, starting with comments from Sony out of Gamasutra suggest that there’s a conversation going on right now at the company, which would bring about an Early Access program for the PlayStation 4.
Adam Boyes of Sony claims that the team at PlayStation is contemplating a program similar to what is found on Steam. Though they are hesitant as they are being mindful of the consumer. Boyes says, “We don’t want somebody to stumble across that title and expect a full product and have a negative experience.”
Now more recently, the head of the Xbox indie development program, Chris Charla says that Microsoft is too considering an early access initiative, due to strong demand from developers. “It’s something developers have been asking for, and we are listening really closely to developers, but I don’t have anything to announce on that right now,” Charla told Develop Online.
While the comments from both Boyes and Charla sound like Early Access on the Xbox One and PS4 could be a ways off, it’s certainly also sounding like a hot topic among those who are shaping the way games for consoles are being developed.
