Changes To How Steam Demos Work Are On The Way

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to discover great games. Valve’s recent announcement about enhancing demos on Steam has certainly piqued my interest.


Steam users will now find it simpler to explore demos thanks to recent modifications introduced by Valve. The objective is to make demos more distinct and accessible. Going forward, demos will function more like individual games on the platform, complete with their own dedicated store pages. This setup allows for unique screenshots, trailers, and descriptions that highlight the demo’s content separately from the main game. Additionally, users can add demos to their collections without downloading them immediately. Once uninstalled, the demo will be automatically removed from the library as well.

Based on Valve’s announcement, these updates are a response to input from game developers and users. Players will receive notifications for demos of desired games. Demo pages will feature install buttons, review sections, and links to the full game’s page. Valve intends to display demos more frequently on Steam’s popular pages and pair them with free-to-play titles to create a more equal mix with paid content.

Valve added that the Steam icon for game demos does not represent a dinner plate, but rather pays homage to the past when demos were frequently mailed out in the form of CD-ROMs. As Valve explained, “Back then, demos came packaged with gaming magazines on paper and were stored on round discs called Compact Discs.”

In summary, these plans aim to boost the exposure of demos for an eventful week at Steam Next Fest starting October 14th. During this week-long festival, fans can test out demos from numerous games and share valuable feedback with developers. Additionally, Tower Defense enthusiasts can anticipate the commencement of Tower Defense Fest on July 29th for a preview experience of PC games in that specific genre.

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2024-07-26 18:08