Summary
Supergiant Games' success withHadesin 2020 came on the heels of its two years of Early Access, which it used to optimizeHadeswhile communicating with players. By the time thefull version ofHadeswas released, it was a slick and ambitious achievement by the developer to create a roguelike with compelling characters, fast action, and dynamic gameplay. Despite its success, it was a pleasant surprise whenHades 2was announced at The Game Awards 2022.
Hades 2will follow the Ancient Greek goddess Melinoe as she battles against the Titan of Time who has escaped from his imprisonment in the depths of Tartarus to battle the Olympians once more. Like its predecessor,Hades 2will have a period of Early Access where the game will be available for players to purchase and play while the developer continues to refine the game in the final stage of development.
Lessons From Hades' Development Cycle
A Similar Timeline to Hades
Hades' full release was in 2020, givingHades 2a development period of up to four years before going into Early Access. The gap between Supergiant’s previous game and the Early Access inQ2 2024 forHades 2is a little longer than Supergiant’s usual three-year gap, which gives the developer more time to create a better gaming experience on multiple levels.
Supergiant Games is now also able to build on its technology andsuccesses withHadesand apply those toHades 2, all while improving on any features that didn’t land as well as they could have. Supergiant’s previous experience with Early Access has given it the opportunity to learn from past mistakes in regard to the timeline of Early Access and development, and the studio has stated that it’s aiming to releaseHades 2at a “sweet spot” where it’ll be optimized for the player experience, based on experience withHades.
Hades 2 Has More Opportunities for Innovation
More Time Means Better Optimization
The extra development time with established gameplay systems means there’s more opportunity to streamlineHades 2and make it a better experience for players. The 2024 window is an indication that the developer is getting the time it needs to make the game as good as possible. The latest community update also indicates there will be a technical test for a smaller batch of players, so thatHades 2is better optimized for as many players as possible before Early Access is even available.
What Hades 2 Early Access Could Look Like
Early Access makes the game available to players before it’s finished development, usually years before the final product is released. The firstHadesgame was available in Early Accessfrom 2018 until its official V1.0 release in 2020, and received periodic character, story, music, art, and gameplay updates throughout this period. Players can send feedback to the developer during Early Access.
Why Early Access Works
Early Access is one way to create a community of players before the release of a game and builds a positive bond between players and the developer. This is especially the case ifplayer feedback is taken and acted upon during Early Access. This strategy has brought a lot of success for recent game releases, including the firstHadesgame which received positive feedback from the community for the developer’s support. A more recent example isBaldur’s Gate 3, which spent just under three years in Early Access and won Game of the Year and Best Community Support at The Game Awards, among others. A large part ofBaldur’s Gate’s development time and process was spent in Early Access and using that time to build that community rapport with players.
Based on Supergiant’s timeline withHades, players could seeHades 2in Early Access for around two years, which puts a full release at 2026. Despite its incredible success withHades, Supergiant Games is a small developer, so giving its team the time it needs for a successful Early Access launch is a positive sign.
