We’re excited to announce that ’83 will be taking part in Steam Next Fest next week, showcasing our Cold War–gone–hot tactical shooter to players around the world.
Ahead of the festival, we’re opening up the demo for a series of limited-time play sessions this week. This is your first opportunity to get hands-on with a pre-release build of ’83 and experience the core gameplay, factions, and mechanics before the event officially begins.
Below, we’ve answered the most common questions about the demo, what’s included, how it works, and what to expect during both this week’s sessions and Steam Next Fest itself.
If your question isn’t covered here, feel free to drop it in the comments or connect with us on Discord.
To gain access to the '83 Demo, navigate to the Steam store page and click "Download Demo".
View game page
Demo Availability Schedule
NextFest Demo FAQ
What is ’83?
’83 is a Cold War–gone–hot, combined-arms, first-person tactical shooter that pits two teams of players against each other in massive battles across sprawling maps, fighting over objectives designed to reward the team with better strategy, coordination, and teamwork to seize the day.
Designed with accessible realism for the most enjoyable experience that gets you to the action fast without losing that realistic feel and depiction of the true lethality of war.
What can I expect in the Next Fest Demo?
The Next Fest demo will feature one of the three maps that will be available at our Early Access launch, the Norwegian Fjord. A rugged, mountainous environment that offers vertical gameplay, dense terrain, and brutal chokepoints. It’s the smallest of the three maps planned for Early Access, making it ideal for fast-paced, objective-driven combat.
The mode on offer is Assault, a two-round, objective-based battle inspired by the fan-favorite ‘Territories’ mode from Rising Storm. One team attacks, attempting to capture a series of objectives in sequence, while the defenders must hold their ground until the timer runs out, a lockdown is triggered, or the attackers run out of reinforcement tickets. Teams will then switch sides for a second round.
Please be aware that the build you will play is a work-in-progress and you can expect to see some unfinished assets & UI elements, missing textures and encounter some bugs. And while this demo represents just a slice of what '83 will offer at Early Access launch, it’s built to give players a feel for the core mechanics, tight squad-based coordination, role-based gameplay, and the relentless push-pull of Cold War combat.
Why are the servers limited to 30v30, while the Steam page advertises 40v40?
It's important for us to ensure a smooth playing experience for all our players during the Next Fest demo. To ensure this, we have temporarily lowered the player count to a max of 60 as there still is ongoing optimisation work to support 80 players .
This is a temporary measure for testing purposes only, the Early Access release is still planned to support 80 player, 40v40 servers.
What Factions and Classes will be available?
In the Next Fest demo, you’ll be able to play as either the United States Army or the Soviet Ground Forces, the two core factions available in 83’s Early Access launch.
Each faction offers a distinct tactical flavour, with historically grounded weapons and gear that reflect their Cold War doctrine. The demo includes a selection of core infantry roles such as Rifleman, Machine Gunner, Marksman, Grenadier, and Anti-Tank, as well as Squad Leader and Commander roles for those looking to coordinate the action or take strategic control of the battlefield.
How long does a match last?
‘83 has been designed to be mindful of your time, with matches lasting around 30-40 minutes.
How will the demo differ from the early access release?
The early access release will feature:
Drivable jeeps and tanks and the Tank Crew role.
Three maps set across various iconic Cold War locations.
Two fully fledged game modes - Frontlines and Assault.
Support for 40v40 (80 player) servers.
How long is the Next Fest demo available?
The ‘83 demo will be available 24/7 over the course of Steam Next Fest from the 13th-20th October.
What are the in-game controls?
I encountered a bug, or have feedback on the game at large – where do I share/report it?
Submit all your bug reports and feedback on our official website or the official ‘83 Discord
Website: https://83thegame.com/feedback/
Discord: https://discord.gg/JhpgysJuex
Looking forward to your honest feedback and bug reports!
I am a content creator/streamer and would like to create content around the demo, is this allowed?
Yes! You can stream and record the Steam Next Fest demo as you wish, we’re looking forward to seeing your content covering ‘83!
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