"Expectations are higher now than five or six years ago, in terms of the amount of content and polish in all aspects," said Windblown designer Yannick Berthier in an interview. "Windblown was already quite advanced by the time it launched in early access, and it's important to start with a base that's ready for release."
"Players want a real game," added designer Thomas Wasser. "Even if it's not finished, the content should feel complete. A small amount at the start should be perfect. If not, it's just a paid demo, and people won't be happy. Expectations are very high now, and examples like Hades show that quality matters from the start."
Most players understand that they are buying a game in early access that is not completely ready, but, as Berthier notes, they still spend money.
"There will be complaints about lack of content or incompleteness, but that's fair - they are buying a game."