Early access gives developers a lot of feedback and resources for the final stretch of a game’s development. ForNightingale, the survival crafting game entering Early Access on February 20, this development approach allows players to helpshape the “place” that isNightingale.
That response has, so far, been overwhelming. The final playtest before the game enters Early Access was extended from just a couple of hours to the better part of a day as players rushed intoNightingale’s Fae Realms. That reactivity to players forms the backbone of Inflexion’s approach going forward as well. Game Rant spoke to Inflexion CEO Aaryn Flynn ahead of the game’s release into Early Access about what the roadmap going forward may entail, and he placed that ball squarely in the players’ hands.
Nightingale’s Early Access Plans Explained
Early Access is a critical tool that grants developers extra resources, chief among them is player feedback, while it’s still in active development. InNightingale’s case, it will let players' voices be heard about what they want in the game because it is developed as an online place for them. As Flynn put it,
Our biggest priority at launch is listening to the feedback from our community. It’s what we’ve been doing throughout our closed alpha playtests and what we plan on continuing to do.
Early Access is common in the survival-crafting genre, but it is perhaps more open-ended inNightingalethan others. That’s a good thing piled on top of a great thing because Early Access really works for this style of game.ARK: Survival Evolvedspent years in early access, and games likeSatisfactoryandSons of the Foresthold players' attention despite still being Early Access titles. Most ofNightingale’s peers in the genre that have debuted so far in 2024 are alsoEarly Access titles likePalworldorEnshrouded.
Nightingale’s Historical and Fictional Characters May Grow During Early Access
Nightingale’s approach to Early Access isn’t an uncommon one, but that’s not to say the developers are not bringing their own ideas to the table either. One way Inflexion is planning this is with the variouscharacters players can meet inNightingale. When asked if there were any that didn’t make it off the cutting room floor, Flynn said,
As with any project, there are always ideas that never make it past the cutting room floor, but the beauty of a live service game means that most ideas are never fully cut, just tabled for a later release. If a beloved historical figure, mythological creature, or fictional character hasn’t yet made it into the game, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t later.
It’s common in any creative process for certain ideas to not make it into the final product or to find themselves on the cutting room floor. As both a live service game–a common trait of thesurvival crafting genre–and an Early Access title, there’s plenty of room for those ideas to make it back intoNightingalewithout having to wait for a DLC release later on.
But Early Access can be a lengthy ordeal because the scope and shape of the game is constantly in flux. Knowing this,Nightingaledevelopers weren’t keen on giving a release date. The game will simply release version 1.0 when it is done, Flynn said.
We don’t have an exact date on when we will end Early Access. We’re committed to listening to the players' feedback and adjusting our plans as necessary, so we will only leave Early Access when we’re ready.
Nightingale
WHERE TO PLAY
Nightingale is a PVE open-world survival crafting game played solo (offline or online), or cooperatively with friends. Build, craft, fight and explore as you venture through mystical portals into a variety of amazing and fantastical realms.You are stranded beyond our world, cut off by the collapse of the arcane portalnetwork. This catastrophe has left you fighting to survive in a labyrinth of beautiful and dangerous Fae realms.Your goal: become a skilled Realmwalker, and navigate the web of transdimensional portals. Only then can you discover your way to the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.Prepare to make your way through Faewild forests, harrowing swamps, and shimmering deserts as you unlock the portals leading deeper into the lands of Fae. Cook meals, build shelter and muster the spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.
