Valve have overhauled the way game demos work on Steam in some big ways, and it sounds like a really good thing for both developers and players.
Announced on Steam, demos can now have their own full store page. This allows developers to accurately describe the demo with what features the demo specifically offers, along with all the usual bits like trailers and screenshots. This will also display a banner linking back to the full game.
This also means you can directly follow a demo page, to be notified when it's actually live. Nice! It also gives players the ability to review the demo too.
Demos will also appear across Steam in various places, acting as if they're a free game. So you can expect to see them in charts like New & Trending and across all the tags. This sounds good, but I imagine this will also increase the complaints from developers on their new releases being quickly pushed down by demo releases. Still, nice for players to find them easier.
Demos also have their behaviour tweaked for your Steam Library:
- You can add demos to your library without having to immediately install them. Just click on the new "add to library" button next to demos you may not be ready to install (while using the mobile app, for instance).
- Demos can be installed even if you already own the full game. Primarily, this will make it easier for developers to test demos, but it will also help players more easily manage installing/uninstalling demos.
- Demos can be explicitly removed from an account by right-clicking > manage > remove from account.
- When a demo is uninstalled, it will automatically get removed from your library.
Check out some demos on Steam.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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10 comments
So finally they fixed the blasted annoyance where you could not add or download demos when "Enable Steam Play for all other titles" was not checked? No more errors "platform not supported"?? 
It's been 84 years... bless their hearts!
It's been 84 years... bless their hearts!
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My next fun pastime: clicking Manage -> Remove from account individually on each of 355 Demos that magically appeared on my account after the change and refuse to disappear. 
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ElectricPrism Jul 26
Demos needs its own filter in the left hand menu filter.
Also, will there be ratings and reviews on Demos that __dont__ carry over to the released game to help measure public response? Or does that not make sense.
Also, I would like to optionally remove Demos from my account and couldn't find the button the other day -- maybe I am on Steam Client Beta and the button has gone *poof*
Also, will there be ratings and reviews on Demos that __dont__ carry over to the released game to help measure public response? Or does that not make sense.
Also, I would like to optionally remove Demos from my account and couldn't find the button the other day -- maybe I am on Steam Client Beta and the button has gone *poof*
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Quoting: ElectricPrismAlso, will there be ratings and reviews on Demos that __dont__ carry over to the released game to help measure public response? Or does that not make sense.I would think if the ratings carry over, that would discourage publishing technical previews (and other demos that don't yet entirely present the finished product). I guess the downside from that is that developers get less early feedback. Though ratings in general might push the technical previews down.
Quoting: ElectricPrismAlso, I would like to optionally remove Demos from my account and couldn't find the button the other day -- maybe I am on Steam Client Beta and the button has gone *poof*Uninstalling demos removes them from the account. Doesn't work with prologues though, but the changes should reduce the need for them.
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OT: Now, if there was only a way to play demos that get delisted because whenever there's a Steam Fest going on, I don't have time to test out as many demos for a week and sometimes, when I get to a game I want to try out that used to have a demo, it ends up getting delisted.
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The time limitation on Next Fest demos is indeed highly frustrating, especially since there's usually no indication on the demo page that it's time-limited or exactly when it'll be pulled (usually it's when Next Fest ends, but that's not always the case). What's equally annoying is that when the Next Fest-featured full game is launched, a demo doesn't re-appear for it. Maybe this change might make devs think about keeping Next Fest demos up for longer, but I wouldn't bet on it...
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Quoting: rklThe time limitation on Next Fest demos is indeed highly frustrating, especially since there's usually no indication on the demo page that it's time-limited or exactly when it'll be pulled (usually it's when Next Fest ends, but that's not always the case). What's equally annoying is that when the Next Fest-featured full game is launched, a demo doesn't re-appear for it. Maybe this change might make devs think about keeping Next Fest demos up for longer, but I wouldn't bet on it...
I have a feeling that in general it has gotten better. I remember lot more demos being removed as transition from event in physical place was transformed into virtual one was going on. This time around there were few, maybe one or two when fest ended and then more during next weeks. Basically if you spot something interesting after the fest, it's likely that the demo is still around. I found several interesting games after the fest.
There are still reasons that demos are removed, like building anticipation for the release. But you have to ask directly from the developer in order to figure that out.
Also with the changes, it's easier to play demos during whole year. I don't remember if the demo portal was there before, but there is one now. Some demos included in the fest are available quite a while before the fest start.
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