Steam's revamped demo feature now introduces individual store pages, user feedback, and wishlist alerts

Steam has overhauled its demo policies to improve visibility for developers and their games.

One significant innovation is the option for developers to create unique store pages for their demos. These pages can feature visual assets and detailed descriptions, and they will automatically connect to the full game's store page for seamless wishlisting and purchase.

According to an announcement from Valve, these demo pages can be optionally utilized and removed at the developer's discretion. To go live, pages must include a written description, images, and appropriate tags, and even existing demos can be updated this way.

User reviews for the demo will be collected and featured on these specific store pages. If a separate demo page is not created, reviews will not be displayed.

Valve has promised uniform treatment of demos on Steam, whether or not they have dedicated store pages. However, demos receiving negative reviews may be less prominently featured if their ratings are poor, whereas positive reviews can enhance visibility and interest.

Now treated similarly to free games, demos can show up in various sections such as 'New & Trending' or 'New on Steam'. This positioning is similar to how a new free game launch would be handled.

Moreover, Steam can notify users who have wishlisted the full game or follow the developer when a new demo is available. Developers have some control over the timing of these notifications, particularly useful during significant events like Steam Next Fest.

Additional user-friendly changes include the ability to add demos to their library without immediate installation, complete removal from accounts, and installation even if the full game is owned.