Why Early Access?

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Why Early Access?

Late Hours is an atmospheric horror game set in a small-town burger joint, designed to deliver a tense, immersive experience through storytelling, sound design, and unsettling encounters. We’re choosing Early Access to involve the community in helping us fine-tune the game’s pacing, scares, and overall polish.

The core gameplay loop is fully functional, but Early Access will allow us to:

Refine the horror pacing and tension based on player feedback

Improve performance and stability across different systems

Polish visual effects, animations, and sound design

Expand and adjust content to ensure a smooth, high-quality experience


By launching in Early Access, we can work closely with players to shape Late Hours into the best version of itself ahead of full release.
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Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We expect Late Hours to remain in Early Access for 6 to 12 months. This timeframe allows us to gather player feedback, make necessary adjustments to gameplay, pacing, and performance, and implement any additional content or polish needed for a full release. However, we're committed to quality over deadlines, so this window may shift depending on community input and development progress.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version of Late Hours is planned to offer a more polished and complete experience. While the Early Access version will include the core gameplay, story, and mechanics, the full release will expand on this foundation with:

Improved audio and visual polish across the game

More environmental details and dynamic events to deepen immersion

Additional in-game interactions and scares to enhance variety

Refinements to pacing and flow based on player feedback

Full optimization and bug fixing for broader hardware compatibility


Our goal is to use Early Access as a way to iterate with the community and ensure the final version delivers the most immersive and unsettling horror experience possible.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of Late Hours includes the full gameplay loop for a single night shift at the restaurant. Players can take and fulfill customer orders, manage tasks, explore the restaurant, and experience the core horror elements that unfold throughout the shift.

Key features currently included:

Core mechanics for taking and preparing orders

Full playthrough of the main night shift

Environmental storytelling and scares

Basic audio and visual implementation

Functional pause menu and basic settings


While the game is playable from start to finish, some areas are still being refined. We’re actively working on bug fixes, performance improvements, sound design upgrades, and additional visual polish.
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Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“We plan to gradually raise the price as we add more content, polish, and features throughout development. Early Access players will be getting in at a lower price as a way to thank them for supporting the game early and helping shape its final form.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We want the community to be an active part of shaping Late Hours. Player feedback will help us fine-tune the pacing, fix bugs, improve performance, and polish the overall experience. We'll be listening closely to suggestions, bug reports, and reactions shared through Steam forums, social media, and Discord.

As development continues, we’ll post regular updates, share behind-the-scenes insights, and highlight changes driven by community feedback. Our goal is to build a game that feels tight, immersive, and refined—with the help of the players who care most about it.”