PoE2: Early Access or Paid Release in Disguise?

If this was truly a beta then why put a paywall to block free labor?

Are we testing the game or selling it?

Normally a paid early beta access is justified by borrowing revenue from future sales, but that makes very little sense with a game that's supposedly free-to-play.

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Naviachi#3440 wrote:

Early Access is NOT a release... You don't have to play now.

Technically it's true that early access is "optional", but GGG makes damn sure that it's effectively presented as a major new release. The hype, the content previews and all activity centres around December 6th and not some vague release date in the future. GGG knows damn well that players don’t want to wait so they’re leveraging FOMO in order to sell what's advertised as free-to-play.

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AcrylicHercules#1220 wrote:

It's a portion of the game, and it's subject to change.

You could say that about every league and expansion that PoE has ever released. If PoE 1 was considered "beta" until today, with paid "early access", it would be no different from what we're seeing here.

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AcrylicHercules#1220 wrote:

Charging admission to the beta is one of the few ways that a free-to-play game can have some control over the amount of players in their beta

That's ridiculous!

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Gopstop22#6572 wrote:

GGG release far more content for 30$ than any triple AAA game

Irrelevant. Offering value doesn’t justify dishonesty.

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Urza_Mechwalker#7393 wrote:

I still do not understand how they can keep this game operating without charging from everybody. This is their well deserved pay back for their hard work.

Free-to-play as a model is not supposed to be about enforcing paywalls and mandatory purchases. The model thrives on a balance of whales, spenders and non-spenders. The important thing is that spending should be optional and not enforced, because that undermines the very principle of the model.

If this is truly their well-deserved payback for hard work, then why not call it for what it is, a pay-to-play game?

This early access is going to last for 1+ year.

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zakalwe55#2432 wrote:

This early access is going to last for 1+ year.

no it wont its gonna be 6 months maybe a bit more jonathan even said they want to full release in 2025

This whole topic is so stupid. The entitelment is on US Karrens levels. Players want to play the game early, company wants money, its win-win situation here. You dont want to pay? Wait for full release. There is nothing dishonest or malicious in this. The only other option would be GGG picking themselves who is allowed to play. Face it, you are just salty because mom will not give you money for a game.

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Gopstop22#6572 wrote:

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zakalwe55#2432 wrote:

This early access is going to last for 1+ year.

no it wont its gonna be 6 months maybe a bit more jonathan even said they want to full release in 2025

December 2025 is still 2025. Just in time for the holidays.

Well, the longer the early access the more money they will make. Early access is the best FOMO.

What is up with the cuck bois not
understanding this early access is
not the entire game. And of course
thread is by someone who has never
bought a supporter pack ever.
Bitching bout $30 in today's world
there is no help for you.

PoE 2 early access is different from other games' early access. It goes from a minimum of $30 to free with the full release. Other games charge for the early access/final product. Some games like Baldur's Gate 3 were in early access for multiple years (3 years in BG3's case). It will be interesting to see when GGG/Tencent decides to go full release.

Answer to OP's question: Yes

Feel free to wait until the games full release. No one is forcing you to buy anything.

I think solution for 30$ is get some real job, like cleaning for some hours, construction help, gardening help or food delivery ( Uber eats etc ). 30$ is not much, in my country lowest income jobs like 4h time.

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Elua#0230 wrote:

I think solution for 30$ is get some real job, like cleaning for some hours, construction help, gardening help or food delivery ( Uber eats etc ). 30$ is not much, in my country lowest income jobs like 4h time.

If the early access price were 10x higher, lets say $300/$4800, would you still defend it with working more hours? Probably not. And if the price makes a difference on your stance, then you’re already conceding that the issue isn’t about being cheap, it’s about fairness and reasonable practices.