“15 years ago, people understood it was an unfinished game”: As Endless Legend 2 hits 1.0, Amplitude reflect on how early access has changed
Amplitude Studios’ Endless Legend 2 has reached version 1.0 following a year in early access, prompting reflection on how the development model has evolved over the past 15 years. The studio has pioneered early access programs since before Steam formalized the practice, offering Endless Space players an alpha build during its pre-release period in 2012.
Amplitude continues to engage its community through its Games2Gether program, which facilitates ongoing dialogue with players about design decisions and gathers feedback to guide development. The initiative is currently being used for the recently announced Humankind 2 with a dedicated group of community members.
The article reflects on how player expectations around early access titles have fundamentally shifted. While players 15 years ago broadly accepted and understood that early access games were inherently unfinished products, contemporary players are described as potentially less forgiving of incomplete features and ongoing changes. This changing landscape has shaped how studios approach their early access strategies and community communication.