Steam is implementing changes to how demos work on the platform, aiming to benefit both developers and users. The most notable change, announced on the Steam website, is that demos are now easier to find, install, and remove from your library. You no longer need to immediately install a demo to add it to your library, and removing it is as simple as right-clicking on the game and selecting “remove from account” or uninstalling it. You can even install a demo even if you own the full game. Previously, installing a demo involved visiting a game’s store page, which resulted in it being treated like a full game. This meant it remained in your library even after uninstalling and wouldn’t disappear even after adding the full game to your account. These updates ensure that demos don’t clutter your account.
The update also tackles discoverability, a key concern for developers. Game demos will now appear on the Steam store under relevant sections, a significant improvement from being only accessible on the game page. Valve states that demos will “behave more like free games,” meaning they will show up on trending charts and specific store pages. Similar to how free games function, you can also wishlist a game and receive a notification when its demo becomes available. This change is particularly beneficial as events like Steam Next Fest and SimFest, dedicated to promoting demos for upcoming games, become more frequent. Demos provide developers with an excellent way to generate excitement and keep potential players informed about the progress of games under development.
