Next Fest Q&A May 2024

Members of the Steam Business Team answer developers’ questions about registering for and getting the most out of Steam Next Fest. Topics covered in this presentation: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:17 What are the deadlines to register 00:02:50 Recommendations on running a live stream 00:04:16 Demos vs playtests during Next Fest 00:05:18 Can demos be released before Next Fest 00:07:30 Can the demo build be updated after being uploaded 00:08:19 Press Preview event prior to Next Fest 00:10:03 Submission deadlines 00:11:10 More about the Press Preview 00:12:02 Official Marketing Material inclusion deadline 00:13:17 What is the popularity of Next Fest by region 00:14:47 Can demos be posted places in addition to Steam for Next Fest 00:15:21 Does the livestream version of the demo need to be the same as the store page version 00:16:30 Is there a deadline for the Steam Store Page 00:17:25 Are Next Fest participants required to be a Steam exclusive 00:17:54 October Next Fest demo deadline 00:18:17 How to be confident of Next Fest participation status 00:19:54 Are there regional restrictions for Next Fest participation 00:20:27 Deadlines for Press Preview 00:20:56 Registration deadlines 00:21:55 Store page deadline 00:23:07 Will the demo be available to the public at the same time as the Press Preview 00:23:52 Are there any special considerations for being included in Next Fest 00:24:54 Testing demos on Steam - LINK 00:25:38 Can livestreams be a pre-recorded video 00:27:08 Is the Press Preview list the responsibility of the developer or Steam 00:28:36 Is inclusion in Next Fest based on the store page and demo 00:30:02 Can demo builds be updated after initial submission 00:30:48 What restrictions are there in Next Fest participation 00:31:52 Multi-player servers 00:32:40 Multi-player demos 00:33:58 Should a livestream be looping for 24 hours 00:34:52 What should a livestream or trailer look like 00:35:51 When should the store page go live to the public 00:37:03 Can a demo be updated after initial build review 00:37:33 Registration deadline changes to be aware of 00:38:46 How does the press know a demo is available 00:39:20 What happens during press preview - LINK 00:39:49 Official Next Fest Asset Kit 00:40:15 When should a game release after participation in Next Fest 00:41:27 How long should a demo be available for Press Preview 00:42:24 Is promoting a previously released game allowed during Next Fest 00:43:56 Number of Steam Festivals allowed for a game 00:45:04 Are there bast practices for Next Fest and Early Access launch timing 00:46:12 Is there a limit to the number of games participating in Next Fest 00:47:16 What type of content drives the most engagement 00:47:52 Next Fest Press Preview opt-out deadline 00:48:38 Steam games language support and visibility 00:50:08 How long should a demo be 00:51:33 Is there data available for the size and reach of Next Fest 00:53:16 Should a game have multiple trailers or a single trailer that gets replaced 00:53:45 Using the Next Fest Press Kit 00:54:12 Best practices for showing up on the front page of Next Fest 00:55:43 Is there data on the impact of livestreams during Next Fest 00:56:34 Does Steam highlight specific games for the Press Preview 00:57:19 Wrap-up