26 Feb 2023, 07:29

@Pavel said in What Is Alpha Anyway?:

People expect a continuous update cycle, with tweaks and the like. Even DLC. But they also know that, while a 1.0 release won’t be perfect, it is expected to be feature complete. We see the backlash against video games that “release” in an incomplete or buggy state all the time.

That’s going to depend on the game, really. Many games (and apps) release new features regularly, not just tweaks/DLCs.

But I do think we’re in agreement on several core points. Certainly players expect 1.0 to be “feature complete” and stable (i.e., not too buggy). All I’m saying is that the creator defines what “feature complete” means in the first place. It’s all about setting and managing expectations.

“Early Access” in video games, at least, usually refers to a game that’s ready for release, or very nearly so. Alpha and beta are really meant for players to provide feedback and help test things out before it’s ready. That’s why so many video games offer free alpha/beta test versions. You’re doing them a favor by trying out their half-baked game/app.