It's not like Kickstarter at all; here the games already exist and are in playable form, there is no waiting involved.

And it's not "for a multi billion dollar company" because it's the developers that benefit from early access; Sony is just selling a game like everyone else.

Lot of people here don't seem to know what early access is.

That entire argument could, and actually should be completely flipped around.  Why are you blaming a multi-billion dollar company for doing what it exists to do?  Trying to make money.  Isn't it up to the consumer to judge what is and isn't healthy for the industry?  Isn't it the consumer, who, through their wallets, tells developers the direction to go in?  So then, should it not be the consumers fault, when they allow such things to become profitable?  Why would you blame Sony, or Microsoft, or EA, or Activision etc... for doing what they do, and turn a blind eye to the consumer who is encouraging such practices?  Seems like misplaced blame, frankly.

If people don't like the idea, I'm sure Sony will harpoon it before it goes live.  However, given the popularity of the Steam Early Access program, I wouldn't count on it.

But the game is still not finished at that point... What are we paying for here? Getting to play buggy versions of the game? Beta testing it?

When I buy a game, I expect it to be done...

then stop critisizing sony based on your ignorance of what this even is.  this is nothing like kickstarter.  if you can't even take the time to get the basic facts straight then you don't deserve to have an opinion..

It's not a compulsory service, stick to your principles (i.e. Buy the game when it's done), and this service won't impact you in the slightest.

On Kickstarter you pay the developer money in advance for them to make the game. Often the game is in playable form. You get to play early versions of it and have a say in the development. How is it not like Kickstarter?

Then buy it when it's done

Hmm, the problem is that too many indie developers are abusing this system. Sure, if a team of 5 guys has a great project but simply can't find all the glitches alone or if they need help to balance fighters in a beat'em up it isn't too bad to release the game as early access for a lower price but you never really know if the developer will even care if he got enough money from the early access alone and too many release the games in such an early state that it's barely playable so that you could think the developer want you to do all their work and they only want to write the code then^^

So, as long as Sony could ensure that the early access games are already a good version which  need only a little extra help it would be fine but they really have to control that indies won't abuse this. 

Kickstarter goes through a funding period and then still needs development until anyone gets their hands on it.

An early access game is playable the minute it is added to the store. There are no goals to meet and you don't wait until a beta build is completed, because they already have one.

Adopting a loved option that Steam already offers (i.e. adapting to new things your competition is doing) is hardly worth criticizing. People to try out new games and have shown willing to play new things early because they're interested in it. If you're not interested, don't comment.