RollerCoaster Tycoon World finally launching next week — in Early Access

Atari will launch RollerCoaster Tycoon World on March 30 in Steam Early Access, nearly two years after it was first announced.

Players can purchase the game for $49.99, which will give them access to its current build as well as the final version when it does arrive. In its Early Access build, Windows PC users on Steam can test out the coaster builder, Steam Workshop functionality and campaign mode, among other features.

RollerCoaster Tycoon World will receive various free updates over the coming months, according to its development blog. Those who pre-ordered the full version of RollerCoaster Tycoon World through other channels prior to the Early Access announcement will be eligible for refunds until March 31, the team noted.

The full game will launch when it "is ready to be shared with the world as a finished product," the development team wrote on the blog. "Yes, there really is much more work we want to do. This isn't about just improving and polishing but also adding new functionalities that the game needs."

RollerCoaster Tycoon World has endured a long, bumpy development cycle on the way to the Early Access launch. Since Atari unveiled it in August 2014, it's changed developers multiple times. Pipeworks was first attached to the project before Area 52 Games took over. That developer released the game's first trailer in March 2015, which received criticism from series fans due to its visual style.

"there really is much more work we want to do"

In July, the official blog confirmed that Nvizzio Creations had taken over development. The developer later announced the game would launch on Windows PC and Mac in December 2015, following two open beta periods. Only one of those beta weekends ran, after which the release date was pushed back to sometime in early 2016 to accommodate the improvements requested by participants.

The series' latest main entry, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, hit PC and Mac in 2004. Atari later released a mobile sequel in 2014 without the involvement of Frontier Developments, which took over production from series creator Chris Sawyer. That studio, also known for Zoo Tycoon and Elite: Dangerous, has gone on to create its own rollercoaster creator, Planet Coaster. That game launches this year.

Correction: RollerCoaster Tycoon World is currently only available on Windows PC, and Planet Coaster will launch later this year. The text above has been corrected to reflect these.