What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access? “We are using Early Access to allow us to thoroughly test Xenonauts-2 and experiment with the features and balance of the game prior to release. This means the game will be a far more polished and enjoyable experience for everyone when it finally launches!



The community feedback we gained during the development of the first Xenonauts made a huge difference to the final quality of the game and we're looking forward to working with the community to make Xenonauts-2 as good as it can be!” Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access? “We are expecting the game to remain in Early Access for approximately six months - but it may be longer than that. We'll keep working on the game until we're happy with it!” How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version? “The final version of Xenonauts-2 will be a tough strategic and tactical challenge, but the Early Access is not yet at that level. We're working hard to improve and refine the gameplay, fix a lot of usability / stability issues, and add more content.



We'll be adding significant amounts of content in Early Access - more maps, more mission types, more equipment, more enemies, etc. The visuals of the game will also be polished and improved, and we'll be iterating on the interface to make it easier to use and nicer to look at!



Several parts of the game need further development and design work, hopefully in collaboration with our community - the AI is not particularly advanced yet, and there's several new strategic systems (e.g. the main base / air combat mechanics) that we need to to spend more time experimenting with!



Basically, we'll be spending the Early Access phase of development adding in missing features and content, and polishing what is already in place. There's a lot of work left to do, but it's much easier to do it when we have a community around the game reporting problems and giving us suggestions!” What is the current state of the Early Access version? “The current version of Xenonauts-2 is a playable but incomplete version of the final game, containing the strategy layer, the ground combat and a basic form of the new air combat. However you cannot yet play a full campaign as not all the content has been implemented.



The Early Access version of the game also includes some placeholder art and interface assets, often borrowed from the first Xenonauts. We'll be reworking these before final release!” Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access? “The game will remain the same price throughout the Early Access period, but the price will increase when the game leaves Early Access.” How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process? “We welcome bug reports and feedback / suggestions on the game mechanics during the development process. This is best done on our community forums at http://www.goldhawkinteractive.com, but we will also check our Steam boards for feedback where possible.



The community feedback we receive is extremely valuable in polishing up the final gameplay experience, so don't be shy about sharing your thoughts!”