Valve has announced a series of updates to Steam aimed at improving the discovery and installation of playable game demos. The new “Great Steam Demo Update,” detailed in a recent blog post, introduces several changes designed to make demos more accessible and user-friendly, based on feedback from developers and players.
Key changes include the ability for demos to have their own dedicated store pages. These pages can showcase demo-specific content, such as trailers, screenshots, and feature lists, separate from the main game’s page. Additionally, the new demo pages will feature buttons to install the demo or visit the main game’s store page, and allow players to leave reviews specific to the demo experience.
Users who have games on their wishlists or follow certain developers will now receive email or mobile alerts when a demo for those games becomes available. Demos will also be integrated into Steam’s broader game listings, appearing alongside free games in sections like the “New & Trending” charts. Valve has adjusted the visibility thresholds to ensure demos are more prominently featured.
Other notable updates include the ability to add demos to your Steam library without immediately installing them, the option to install demos even if you own the full game, and simplified demo removal by right-clicking. Uninstalling a demo will also remove it from the user’s library.
Steam acknowledges that these visibility changes might resurface older demos, though they have made efforts to clean up outdated entries. Additionally, the update includes a humorous note in the FAQ section, clarifying that Steam’s demo icon is based on a Compact Disc rather than a dinner plate, reflecting on how outdated symbols like the floppy disk have become.
These updates aim to enhance the user experience by making it easier to explore and manage game demos on the platform.