The 'why' is not important. You. Get. The. Final. Product. Early.
Not really. We get a chance to play the game on the official release date for PC and not earlier. Originally BG 3 was scheduled for a 2022 release, but got postponed to 2023 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Early in 2023 they set the release date to August 30th. A few weeks ago they decided to change the official PC release date to August 3rd and the PS5 release date to September 6th. We know that game companies move release days all the time. We just have to focus on the current official release date. That is the date that really matters.
Everybody can start playing the PC version of the game on August 3rd. Even those who never participated in early access. So it's not that Larian are offering early access players and early access to the full version. They have just moved the official release date to stay clear of Starfield who will release early September.
Larian have claimed that players who bought the early access will get the digital deluxe version of the game for free. The digital deluxe version is not available for PC at the moment, only for PS5. In the PS5 digital deluxe version the players get 72 hour early access meaning they can play from September 3rd instead of September 6th.
The issue is that we took for granted that also PC players would get the 72 hour early access if we get the digital deluxe version. Larian have not specifically written that we will, but it was inferred when the relase date was August 30th. Thus the confusion when they moved the official release date for PC.
In the PFH session they answered as if August 3rd was the release date for ALL PC players regardless of the version you have. That will be what we can expect until Larian clarifies with more details. They also need to tell WHEN on August 3rd the game will be available. Is it at midnight in your time zone or will they have a global release time.
So we're getting BG 3 earlier than expected 1 month ago, but as far as I know there won't be an early access for some players. The general release date for all PC has been moved to August 3rd. Thus owners of the early access version of BG 3 will just get the digital content in the deluxe version and not access to the full version earlier than those who don't have the digital deluxe version.
Well, until Larian decide to prove us wrong and grant a 72 hour early access to the full version for owners of the EA version. That is what some are hoping for, but can live with just starting August 3rd as well if the wish doesn't come true.
