Steam Now Warns If an Early Access Game Is Dropped by Devs
Updated On: February 11, 2025
There’s nothing worse than getting hooked on a game, only to hit a progression wall—something you kind of sign up for by purchasing and playing an early access game. But you know what’s even worse? Sinking hours into a game, only to realize the updates are never coming because the devs have moved on.
Luckily, Valve has quietly rolled out a new warning system on Steam’s store pages for Early Access games. This feature alerts potential buyers when a game hasn’t been updated in a long time, helping them avoid spending money on projects that may have been abandoned.
When browsing an Early Access game on Steam, users may now see a message stating:
“The last update made by the developers was over [X] months ago. The information and timeline described by the developers here may no longer be up to date.”
Steam’s Early Access program allows developers to release unfinished games to the public, providing early funding and community feedback. In exchange, players take a risk, investing in a game that promises ongoing development and, ideally, a full launch. Some of the most successful games, like Baldur’s Gate 3, Subnautica, and Kerbal Space Program, started in Early Access before becoming massive hits.
In recent years, I’ve found that many Early Access games can be even more enjoyable than big-budget AAA titles. I’ve spent countless hours playing Valheim, Abiotic Factor, and Project Zomboid, all of which have provided unique and engaging experiences. Steam’s Early Access program has not only given players access to these exciting games but has also fueled a new wave of passionate developers. Offering a platform for smaller studios to showcase their work, has given them a real shot at turning their ideas into something bigger.
Unfortunately, not every early access project reaches completion. Some developers abandon their games due to financial struggles, creative roadblocks, or mismanagement, leaving players with an unfinished product. In the past, users relied on community-curated lists to track abandoned titles, but Steam’s new warning system now makes that effort unnecessary.
However, the accuracy of this system raises some concerns. For example, Heartbound was flagged with a warning after going 13 months without updates, even though the developer had been actively working behind the scenes. A patch was eventually released on February 1, but the warning remained, suggesting that the system doesn’t always distinguish between genuinely abandoned games and those experiencing slow but ongoing development.
While the new feature is a step in the right direction, it’s not without its flaws. Steam has not specified what qualifies as an “update” for a game to avoid the warning. Does it require a major patch, or do smaller behind-the-scenes updates count?
Additionally, some developers have irregular update schedules but are still actively working on their games. A misleading warning could deter potential buyers from supporting promising titles that are still actively in development.