All articles tagged with #early access
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches with two five-day beta sessions: Early Access for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC from Aug 21–25 (preload starts Aug 20) for players who preorder; Open Beta runs Aug 28–Sep 1 with preload starting Aug 26 for all players. Access codes can come from preordering the game or via an active Discord Nitro subscription; the Open Beta does not require a code.
NBA 2K HQ launches as the new official mobile companion, letting players fully customize and save their MyPLAYER builds (height, wingspan, position, 53 badges) with automatic cloud sync to consoles, including female MyPlayers; finished builds can be shared via QR codes and imported by teammates. The app also adds Crew management, daily mobile login rewards, and social features, replacing the old MyNBA2K app and enabling Early Access starting August 26 before the September 4 global release.
Mortal Shell II on Xbox Series X|S shows 53 achievements totaling 1,000 Gamerscore (16 hidden), with Early Access starting for the Devout Edition ahead of the full launch on August 20, 2026. The list covers weapon/shell milestones and collectibles, and includes a platinum‑style 'No Lifer' that unlocks after all other achievements (potential cross‑platform caveats noted). Some achievements are hinted to be missable, echoing the first game.
Stars Reach, the Kickstarter-backed sandbox MMORPG from Playable Worlds led by Raph Koster, enters early access today, offering a terraforming-forward galaxy where players can build governments, craft, trade, and shape ecosystems across a vast simulated universe. The current build covers core systems (combat, building, government, crafting, trade) but remains in active development, with a progression wipe planned before 1.0. Early-access editions cost $30 (base), $50, and $80, while the final launch next year will be free-to-play. The project has faced funding challenges and layoffs, casting some doubt on the timing, but a detailed six-month roadmap aims to deliver features like guilds, weather, spaceships, and more.
Grounded 2 surged 220.7% in Xbox players after its Into the Abyss update and its debut on Game Pass Premium, returning to the Xbox Top 40 at #27; the survival game remains in Early Access with no achievements yet, and the update also added cross‑play with PS5 owners and coincided with a PS5 release.
Star Citizen Live’s Siege of Orison demo devolved into bugs and awkward vibes on internal servers, ending after a wipe with host Jared Huckaby telling Olli, 'It’s your show, wrap it up.'
Amber V Studio’s indie sword-action RPG Tsurugihime announces a 100-participant combat-focused closed beta on August 25 (applications open until August 23). Set as a side-scrolling title, Arche wields the Tsurugi to rewrite fate over 100 days before a decisive battle against Kugutsu puppets, offering multiple endings shaped by player choices and the option to pursue peace or combat. Directed by Yosuke Shiokawa (Fate/Grand Order, Kingdom Hearts), the game is slated for Steam Early Access in 2026, with beta details available on Steam’s news hub and the official Discord.
Wardogs, a 100-player shooter from Bulkhead, will enter Steam early access on Sept 10 with a closed-beta weekend (Aug 21–23). Pre-orders guarantee beta access, and players can request a refund if they’re unhappy with the beta. Early access is priced at $40 (rising to $60 at full release) with no in-game monetization planned during EA; cosmetics will come post-release. The EA phase focuses on performance, balance, and bug fixes over roughly 24 months across several maps, vehicles, and weapons.
Panache Digital’s Patrice Désilets acknowledges that AI tools aided 1666: Amsterdam’s development in the early pipeline but says there will be no AI usage in the final game and that AI use is being reduced; the studio faced earlier controversy over AI-generated assets, and 1666: Amsterdam is set to enter PC early access on August 25 for about $30.
Patrice Désilets’ Panache Digital Games finally brings 1666: Amsterdam to Early Access on August 25, 2026, a witchcraft-themed action-adventure that shifts between 1666 Amsterdam, 1999, and present-day storytelling. Players control Noa Brooklyn, a Zaindaris Collector, and switch to her familiar Aaron the cat to access hidden areas and solve Originals hunts, with a roguelite perk system offering three randomized powers per contract. Combat is melee-focused with magic, traversal includes water gliding and platform-warping, and the game emphasizes interior explorations and militia-chase stealth. While the in-progress demo shows rough edges, the team aims to refine mechanics, expand dialogue, and build the game with community feedback over a planned year in Early Access.
1666: Amsterdam, the witchy action game from Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice Désilets and Panache Digital Games, will enter PC early access on August 25 via Steam and the Epic Games Store for $30, delivering about 10 hours of gameplay. The game follows Noa in 1666 Amsterdam, Aaron in 1999, and a modern-day descendant, all tied together by magic across overlapping timelines; a playable prologue has already been released and the full scope may expand based on community feedback.
A hands-on look at 1666: Amsterdam reveals a stunningly recreated 1660s Amsterdam with dual timelines and witchcraft underpinnings, but the preview shows rough combat, undercooked NPCs, awkward cat-transformation traversal, and inconsistent writing. While the visuals and historical detail shine and the roguelite-style coffers promise variety, the game currently suffers from clunky tutorials and pacing, making early access essential for refinement and feedback before it can live up to its ambition.
Xbox Wire reports that Gears of War: E-Day has begun its open beta in early access today, with guidance on how to participate and what to expect from the beta window.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault exits Early Access on September 2, 2026 and will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 with Xbox Game Pass at launch; the original Moonlighter will be free on Steam August 5–9 to celebrate, and a Moonlighter 2 demo is available now. The sequel has evolved through two major updates adding new combat paths, weapons,Companions, and the Bomb Path, plus a new post‑release mode Infinite Endless Vault and a Hardcore Mode, with the 1.0 release concluding the main story and expanding content like armor, weapons, and town customization.
Gears of War: E-Day will run two beta weekends in August: Aug 6–10 for players with early access (preorder or Ultimate/PC Game Pass) and Aug 13–17 open to all on Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Xbox PC and Steam). The beta features Versus multiplayer and the new Horde Siege mode (12-player squads with objectives and extraction). The game launches Oct 6, 2026, with achievements available at release.