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Valve has unveiled changes to how demos work on Steam, as the company is aiming to make them easier to discover. These updates will see demos redesigned to be more like standalone games on the platform, giving them their own store page separate from the main game’s hub. The benefit to this is that the demo page can contain separate screenshots, trailers, and details on these slices of the full game to help set them apart and give potential players more accurate information. You’ll also be able to add demos to your collection without needing to download it straight away, and when it’s uninstalled, it’ll also be removed from your library.
According to Valve, these changes are driven by developer and player feedback, and players can expect to receive alerts for demos of wishlisted games. Pages for demos will include buttons to install the content, leave user reviews, and be redirected to the game’s main page. Valve also plans to list demos more frequently on Steam’s most-visited pages and include them alongside free-to-play games to “better balance them” with paid products.
The company also clarified that the Steam icon for game demos is not based on a dinner plate, but is instead a reference to ancient CD-ROM technology from a bygone era of gaming. “That classic icon, my friend, is from the days when demos were commonly distributed through the post office, contained in a bound package of game journalism printed on dead trees and imprinted on circular media known as Compact Discs,” Valve explained.
Overall, these plans are designed to increase the visibility of demos, which will come in handy during Steam Next Fest. This is a week-long celebration where fans can try out demos from hundreds of games and give early feedback to developers, and the next instance of it will kick off on October 14. Next week will also see the launch of Tower Defense Fest on July 29, for PC gamers looking to try out previews of games in that genre.
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