From Magazine Disks to Steam Next Fest

There was a time when playing a demo meant inserting a floppy disk or CD. That was much before the arrival of betchan.com and the games sites we know nowadays. In that time, demos often came from the back of a magazine. That short preview was the only way to decide if the full game was worth it. Now, things look very different. Demos have gone digital. They’ve grown and changed with the industry. From shareware to digital festivals like Steam Next Fest, the demo’s role has shifted. Sometimes it faded away. But it always came back in a new form.

The Birth of Shareware and Magazine Disks

In the early PC gaming days – 1980s and 1990s – shareware ruled. Games like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Commander Keen gave players early levels to try. These demos were generous. They were meant to be shared. The idea was simple: hook the player early. If they liked it, they’d pay for the rest.

At the same time, gaming magazines joined in. PC Gamer, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and GamePro started including demo disks. First floppy, then CDs, then DVDs. These disks built hype. Gamers waited for each issue to try a 15-minute slice of Half-Life, Quake II, or Tony Hawk. For many, these demos opened a window into games they couldn’t afford or access otherwise.

Consoles Enter the Scene

PC players had shareware. Console gamers had a slower path. That changed in the PlayStation era. Demo disks came with magazines. Sony’s Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine featured early builds of Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, and Spyro. Fans would replay the same level over and over. That one demo had to last.

Later, Xbox Magazine did the same. Subscription-based demo disks became a thing. These demos were both marketing and gatekeeping. Not all games made the cut. For small studios, landing on a disk was a big deal.

The Decline of Demos in the 2000s

Broadband internet changed everything. Steam and other platforms made downloading games easy. Ironically, that led to fewer demos.

Publishers grew nervous. A bad demo might hurt sales. Games also got more complex. It was harder to make a polished demo slice. So instead, companies pushed trailers. Hands-off previews became the norm – on YouTube, E3, and websites.

By the mid-to-late 2000s, demos were rare. Instead, pre-orders came with betas or early access. What was once free became part of the sales funnel.

The Indie Revival and Steam’s Role

But demos didn’t disappear. They changed. The indie boom of the 2010s brought them back. Small studios needed to win players with gameplay, not ads.

Steam played a huge role. It added a demo section again. Games like Hades, Celeste, and Hollow Knight offered early previews. These small bites drove wishlists – and sales.

Other platforms joined in. itch.io became a haven for demos, prototypes, and experimental builds. These demos weren’t just ads. They became part of development. Feedback, community building, and visibility all grew from them.

The Rise of Digital Festivals

Steam Next Fest changed the game again. Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, it gave developers a stage. Time-limited demos let players try games early. It became a digital E3 – especially for indie and mid-tier devs.

This solved problems. Any studio could get seen. Players could test games before release. The old spirit of discovery returned.

What started as a temporary fix is now a regular event. Games like Dredge, Viewfinder, Slay the Princess, and Dave the Diver found fans here. Some demos even went viral, boosted by streamers and YouTubers.

Streaming and the New Demo Economy

Streaming has changed demos too. A good demo can reach millions now. One Twitch or YouTube video can launch a game.

Developers notice this. Some now design demos with “stream moments.” A twist. A scare. A strange mechanic. Something that gets reactions. Something viewers want to play for themselves.

In this way, demos are powerful again. They’re marketing tools with reach and bite.

Demos, Reimagined

Demos have come far from floppy disks and magazine covers. They used to help players decide before buying. Now, they do much more.

Modern demos are dynamic. They support development, build communities, and boost visibility.

They help devs test ideas and get feedback. They create space for small teams to shine.

In a crowded, competitive industry, demos still matter. They’re one of the most player-friendly tools out there. And they show how gaming – and how we discover games – continues to evolve.