Recently announced on their website, Steam has revealed that they will host an online festival next month. As the festival is said to be for games that “a cross between physical and digital”, The Steam Digital Tabletop Fest is set to take place (and be live-streamed) on October 21st through the 26th. As it is known that “Digital tabletop” gaming doesn’t really have any strict criteria, Vale has noted that the festival is covering certain aspects like “a digital port of a physical game, a game which has produced a physical version from the digital one, a game that simulates physical play experience, or a game whose aesthetics are inspired by tabletop games.”
As of now, however, the festival is said to feature speakers, Let’s Plays, talks with different developers, and other digital events focused on the aspects of games that have crossed the physical and digital realm. The festival is said to have multiple speakers from the gaming community, along with sessions with each individual speaker to showcase how they developed their game. Along with these, there is also highlighted to be a speaking panel for games about Mars, where scientists and “actual space agency staff” will talk to different game creators about what they got right and wrong in their virtual Mars. Plague Inc.: Evolved designer James Vaughan is also said to be streaming a session where he will be talking about the difference between the game’s digital and physical release.
This isn’t the first virtual festival Valve has hosted in the midst of the pandemic. While there are not that many panel names announced just yet, there is plenty of time for Steam to announce the rest of their speakers as the month goes on. There is also confirmed to be sale after this event, with all of the games mentioned being discounted after the event is over.