Steam Early Access might not be as safe as we once thought according to Valve.

On Steam's now updated Early Access FAQ, Valve asked "When will these games release?" The answer, much to the disappointment of community members, was that Steam doesn't have a say. Time of release, quality, and what to do with the money given to them is entirely up to the game developer. While many developers offer screenshots or video of their games while promising to improve the game as the Early Access goes on, some simply don't.

This was the case with several Early Access games recently, most notably with Earth: Year 2066 which was released on Early Access while feeling "broken" and "unfinished" according to many reviews. Earth: Year 2066 was available on Steam Greenlight for $19.99 until it was removed from sale and forced to offer refunds.

2066 is just one example, this has been the case with multiple steam Early Access games where developers show off their game, get Early Access money, and abandon it as soon as they have the money. Of course, not all Early Access games are get rich quick scams as Brian Fargo would point out. According to EuroGamer, InXile Entertainment's boss Brian Fargo, currently working Early Access title Wasteland 2 told them that "he believed Early Access would become more refined as customers become more selective."

Whether the blame is placed on the gamers for being fooled into supporting risky Early Access games, or the developers for lying to consumers in the first place, the fact remains that you're responsible for your purchases. next time you buy a game, think hard beforehand if it's actually a game or just a scam.