The Steam Game Festival to Make a Triumphant Return

The next Steam Game Festival has been announced for this year. Taking place from 9th - 14th June, this summer edition will once again give developers the chance to show off their upcoming releases with streamed events and gamers the chance to try out some demos of unreleased games. Developers looking to register for the event can sign up here; the deadline for entry is 24th April. Players can also set a reminder for the event using the same link.

The last Steam Game Festival took place in March 2020 and carried the heavy burden of semi-replacing events like Day of the Devs, The Mix and Indie Megabooth after their cancellation/postponement due to the growing Coronavirus risk. While there's not enough history with this event to draw any firm conclusions (after all, the first was as recent as December 2019), the swift announcement of a follow-up festival after the previous' success is an indicator of an industry-wide shift away from large-scale physical events in favour of more inclusive digital ones.

The logistical and financial difficulties many smaller developers face with physical events is making digital alternatives like these seem like a far favourable option, and one that  benefits the overall health of the industry's all-important independent scene. Not only does it allow a more diverse range of developers to show off their titles, but it also lets them do so in front of a significantly larger audience. Physical events may have their own appeal, but these alternatives are likely better for the games industry's health and the continued growth of its indie scene.

The summer Steam Game Festival will take place 9th - 14th June 2020. Developers can register for participation and players can set a reminder here.