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Take thehigh-scoring Avowed, for example.
The fear of missing out (FOMO) plays a significant role here.
Avowed is currently available to play for Premium edition purchasers.
The rollout for Avowed feels particularly cruel.
By his time, spoilers will have certainly flooded the Internet, taking away the joy of firsthand discovery.
When it launched, the game united players across platforms in sharing discoveries.
Doom: The Dark Ages will be giving Premium Edition buyers 2 days early access to the game in May
We lose the sense of community that makes a new game so special.
Gaming becomes ever more segmented, and a more transactional experience.
If this approach prevents a universal price hike, it could be seen as a necessary evil.
Elden Ring was a cryptic adventure at launch.
It doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.
While Early Access might help keep subscription services viable, it creates inequity among players.
Gaming is at its best when it brings people together in a manner that somewhat transcends socioeconomic barriers.
You can purchase Avowed on Steam and bring across your save from Xbox thanks to Cloud saves.
For those indifferent to spoilers or online discussions, Early Access may not seem problematic.
Early Access fractures the gaming community, and its increasing normalization is a troubling trend.
I don’t know what the solution is here; I’m not a businesswoman.
Xbox Game Pass is a great service, but I’m aware it needs ‘early access premiums’ to survive.
I simply wish premium price tags were associated with cosmetics alone instead of fully opening the doors early.
For now, I remain conflicted.
I’m a dreamer.
