Charging for Early Access? Make Sure It Delivers or Refunds Are in Order.

Halo: Campaign Evolved dropped earlier today, but only for those who shelled out $70 for the Premium Edition. This version grants five days of “early access” before the official launch on July 28. However, as I write this just five hours into the early access period, many players are still locked out of Halo. That’s frustrating, and if companies are going to keep charging extra for early access, they need to be ready to issue refunds when players can’t get in.

Paying extra for early access has become the norm in recent years. Almost every major title now offers a special edition that costs more and promises a few days of early play. But, as I’ve pointed out before, these games aren’t truly offering early access. To launch a game like Halo on Xbox and PlayStation, developers must pass specific tests and obtain certification. Final builds need to be uploaded, back-end systems prepared, and so on. By the time these so-called “early access” periods begin, all that work is already done. It’s more accurate to say that Xbox and other publishers are simply delaying your access unless you pay an extra fee. It’s frustrating, and it’s disappointing that this practice has gained traction.

That said, if publishers want to charge extra for early access, they need to be held accountable when things go wrong. This has happened before, and it’s currently happening with Halo: Campaign Evolved as of 4 p.m. EST on July 23. If players can’t access the game early as promised, they should receive a refund for some or all of the extra money they paid.

I usually sympathize with companies facing challenges during game launches, especially for online titles. Video games are complex, and online games are even trickier. I understand that things can go awry.

But my sympathy fades when you charge $20 or more for early access. At that point, publishers are making a greedy promise, and if they can’t deliver, they should face consequences. In fact, they should be scrutinized more for the overall state of the industry, but let’s keep our focus.

If you promise players the chance to play “early” and then, for half a day or more, those who paid extra can’t actually play the game, you need to refund that fee. If that sounds harsh, here’s a simple solution: Don’t lock early access behind artificial paywalls and ridiculous charges in the first place. It’s really that straightforward. And if you mess this up and gamers start voicing their frustrations online, the blame lies with you and your greedy practices, not with the players who didn’t get what they paid for.

And to everyone else, please stop paying extra for “early” access. Wait a few days. Relax. Save your cash. Read reviews. Don’t let publishers take advantage of you like this, especially since it’s unlikely that any refund policy will actually be implemented. Don’t give them money for nothing. Treat yourself to a soda or something instead.