Steam updates Early Access FAQ to say games may never be finished.

This is nothing "new" - moreover, some of these 'unfinished' games are still more polished and complete than titles released as 'finished' by traditional means.

While it is true that some developers and companies take advantage of the system. This holds true for all development methods.
I still see legions of people buying EA titles after EA screwing them over. Early Access is the same. There's always bad examples.
But the good ones ultimately make it worthwhile.

It can happen...and it has happened before Early Access was even a feature (see: Towns). I don't know what the big deal is, obviously this sort of this has always had the chance of happening, at least now it's out in the open so everyone (consumers) who couldn't figure that out on their own knows it can happen.

I don't think Valve is "ok'ing" it, not really, I find it hard to believe that many developers would say "I was going to finish this game, but now that it's officially in the Early Access FAQ that the game might not be finished, I won't!"

There should be some paperworks done before letting any game into early access. Otherwise indie will just die due to greed.

This is exactly the reason i do not support programs such as kickstarters.

I mean, i dont mind doing a pre order, with the understanding that the game is not finished yet, but ill receive a working copy or i can ask for a refund.

And i dont mind receiving a game that has bugs (every game has them), but there is a big difference between having some bugs and glitches, to have a beta version. regardless, devs should keep updating the game for quite some time to fix any trouble.

I mean, i have some indie games in my library that will literally not start, i cant play them because they are broken, not that i really care since they came in a bundle, but what if you bought that bundle just for that/those games?.

Some one has to put a stop to this flood of indie games, and they can start by putting restrictions on early access and start to take legal actions against any that walk away after releasing a broken game with no follow up/fix. I mean that because is a fraud, a planned fraud. Some may think twice before thinking to make a quick buck.

The biggest story of the century: Someone read the FAQ!

What games are "finished and polished" when they are released? Some games are still buggy somehow a year later.

Also ouch to Towns. Being called out so publicly.

Good, maybe now people can stop crying about it. No more "false advertising" claims... you're being held accountable for your own purchasing decisions now. Enjoy.

Something they should have done since allowing devs to do this. Honestly though I expected that as being a risk when buying early access games. Some people need that spelled out for them though. ( I have bought two so far, 7 Days to Die, and Plague INC Evolved. Not upset with either at the moment. Oh and I think I picked up one or two from bundles. Nekro being one of them, and I like it so far so :P )

Unless the Publishers/Developers are well known and trusted, I am not giving a flying fuck to EA games.

In my book, there are only but few developers like that. Blizzard and Valve themselves are the most dominant ones. Should they offer EA, and I deem the genre good (like Diablo 4 EA, for example), I'd buy in a heartbeat.

Maybe now people will stop buying unfinished products.

An article about this.