Valve's semi-annual Steam Game Preview is a week-long focus on new game demos and developer livestreams. From February 7th to February 13th, 2023, “hundreds” of games that have not yet been released will be available as part of free demo versions.
A virtual fair for indie games
However, these are almost exclusively upcoming indie projects and games from smaller development teams; Triple-A productions do not participate in the promotion. In terms of genres, the Steam game preview covers the full range – from action games to RPGs to VR titles, everything is included. Valve puts the event on the same level as game fairs, where visitors can try out games that have not been released for a long time, and emphasizes: In contrast to playing in the hustle and bustle of the fair, games at the Next Fest can be tested in peace and without waiting.
A list of games compiled by Valve algorithmically on the start page of the campaign in the Steam shop, which was selected taking into account the titles played in a Steam account so far, provides a first clue to interesting titles. In addition, the games can be sorted according to their popularity, their release date, their genre and many other parameters. The following titles deserve special mention.
- Boundary (tactical shooter, release : 2023)
- Dark and Darker (PVP dungeon crawler, Release: 2023)
- Darkest Dungeon II (RPG, Release: Q2 2023)
- Desynced (development strategy , Early Access Release: 2023)
- Fabledom (Building Strategy, Early Access Release: Q2 2023)
- Meet you Maker (Multiplayer Shooter, Release: April 4, 2023)
- Plan B: Terraform (Building Strategy, Early Access Release: February 15, 2023)
- Planet of Lima (adventure platformer, release: Q2 2023)
- Sons of Valhalla (real-time strategy, release: 2023)
- System Shock (action game, release: March 2023)
- Voidtrain (crafting survival game, release: 2023)
Developer livestreams answer questions
What is also given during a trade fair participation: the communicative exchange with developers. And in this regard, Valve refers to numerous live streams where game developers play their own titles, explain them and answer questions from the audience. The first streams are already running; a complete list of all live streams provides an overview.