Xbox Summer Demo Event 2022 Announced, Will Feature 30+ Games

So is this basically that demo thing they’re bringing to gamepass?…only this is before it’s behind a paywall?

@Bleachedsmiles Yeah, that's what I was thinking. What's different about the demo service vs. this beyond needing an active sub to use it? And how will it take a year to create needing an active sub to do this?

@Bleachedsmiles No this is something they've been doing for a couple of years now. As the article states this is the third year.

I thought that the demo stuff they were talking about for gamepass was for third party games just like Sony but they would actually pay the developers. So folks like me who only play gamepass could actually try a non gamepass game abd see if i actually want it or not. For the vast majority of casuals there is no need to play anything outside of the service so this is a great idea for publishers. I'm literally just installing Elden Ring now because I'm able to get games at my library and have a series x with a disc drive.... that's not ab option for everyone. Never would have tried the game otherwise....but with a demo i could.

@Bleachedsmiles @NEStalgia The demos are for everyone. Not behind the GamePass “paywall.”

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/06/16/idxbox-summer-game-fest-demo/

I loved this last year. It’s definitely a highlight trying out these games before hand. Plus you keep the demos after the event is over.

I played so much Clone Drone in the Danger Zone demo last year.

@awp69 @S1ayeR74 I know, but doesn’t this read exactly like what they want to stick behind the gamepass paywall… ‘creating that show floor experience’

@Bleachedsmiles No, because this demo event like the last 2 years seem to all be small studio indie games, I presume this demo idea on Game Pass will include big AAA third party games, it will be open to any studio and not targeted at specific small indie studios.
Also the Xbox summer demo event is free to everyone.

Really enjoyed this last year. I played the 'Lake' demo, and it ended up one of my games of the year.

Free demos with no subscription needed how will they ever make money lol

Hopefully they put Severed Steel on Game Pass - looks incredible!

@Bleachedsmiles
No this is the third year they have done this around E3... I think it started when Covid made it so people could not attend E3. It has been around 30 demos every year too. Some games are better thn others, but it has always been all indie games

@Krzzystuff The Demo's that Xbox are proposing for Game Pass are those kind of Demo's you'd see at PAX, E3 etc to get 'feedback' before they get to release. The idea behind this is to put Devs into Contact with a select group (Game Pass Subscribers) of Gamers to help with their game by providing feedback. These are 'pre-release' demos of games in development looking to use the Community to 'play test' and feed back to the devs so that they have actual Gamers ideas and impressions to help them through the late stages of development. Sarah Bond has explained that these are like those 'pre-release' demo's you'd find from devs at these shows of games in development...

It is not like Sony's service where it seems Compulsory for every AAA game to offer a 'timed' slice of the Finished game for anyone on the Highest Tier of PS+ as a 'demo' to convince them to buy that game.

If this is the case, as Sarah Bond stated, then its a 'different' service to 'Gamers/Devs' than Sony's. Sony's is about providing a 'sample' of a released AAA game to help 'sell' it to those who have 'Free' games to play. Xbox are offering Devs a Community of Gamers as play testers to provide vital feedback and assistance to those who want it and will also help them financially too. What you play may not be in the final release because its a 'specially' designed level to cover every move, attack and/or style of Game Play to test things like moves, collisions, physics, animations, performance etc. Didn't Yooka-Laylee have a 'demo' that gave you an 'example' of what the developers were going for Game play wise that wasn't in the game?

Anyway, that's what Xbox Game Pass 'Demo's' (Project Moorcroft) is and why its a 'different' thing to what Sony are offering...

@BAMozzy huh...if that's the case then yeah it's pretty dumb having it behind the gamepass paywall. Is there any article with the details on this? I honestly thought that having the demos like Sony for non gamepass titles made a lot of sense for all parties involved, what your saying isn't as solid a business plan lol.

@Krzzystuff Its as much for Devs as it is for gamers. Its supposed to be like going to PAX or E3 and being able to go round all those independent Devs booths and play their 'early' demos that they hoped would get feedback and some 'funding' to make that game become a reality.

Its a bit like putting Grounded out as an 'early' Demo and using the community and feedback to develop the game. These are demos from 'small, independent' developers that maybe aren't able to get to PAX/E3 etc to get the feedback and support they need to make their game.

Its a 2-way service - you are giving Devs money and a 'community' of Gamers that can help them develop a game that gamers want to play, a community of 'play testers' to feedback. For Gamers, they are getting 'Demo's' of Games in development and can be part of the 'community' that helped the Devs realise the potential of their ideas. Its like being given access to those 'pre-release' game-play demo's that get shown months, if not years before the game actually releases. Instead of just watching someone else playing through that 'curated' slice created for 'pre-release' shows or having to attend the Show floor to get 'hands on', those 'Demos' will be available to Game Pass Subscribers.

Sony's 'demos' appear to be like EA demos - a chance to try the game for a limited time - free of charge - and then if you wish to keep playing, you have to buy it. You could have the opening Level and/or 2hrs of time to assess if its a game you wish to spend £60+ on. Its supposed to be 'demo's' of games to buy -when you have 'hundreds' of full games you can play free. Its like saying we know you have free games, but these Demo's may get you to spend money through Sony's store and want to 'promote' that.

Xbox's approach is 'very' different. These are for 'independent' devs to get feedback and some extra funding, a community of play testers to feedback and 'help' the development (something that big studio's and Publishers have - we know Phil Spencer gets to 'demo' games in development and can provide feedback). For Game Pass Subscribers, they get pre-release demo's and 'help' in the development. These games may well be on Game Pass when they do release but those who played the Demo and fed back to the devs, helped them bring that game to fruition...

Its worth watching the Sarah Bond interview from the Extended show. Its not about giving us 'Demo's' to make us 'spend' money on games that aren't on Game Pass, its about giving Devs a Community of gamers to 'help' them and provide (some) Financial support in the latter stages and that Community to be part of the development, to give them a 'peak' at future 'indie' games etc