Is the old demo still available to play?
No. CanOpener’s August 20 notice said the Steam demo would stop being playable on August 27. The developer explained that the older build no longer represented the incoming game, particularly its usability improvements and overall experience. Official demo removal notice.
Dungeon Settlers subsequently launched in paid Early Access on September 4. Use the main Steam listing to identify the current product. A search result advertising the earlier demo does not establish that it remains accessible today.
What to do with an old installation
First check the exact product name in your Steam library: a demo entry and the main game are not interchangeable. If the retired demo no longer launches, its announced withdrawal is a relevant explanation; do not assume that changing graphics settings will restore access.
Do not download an unofficial executable claiming to reactivate the demo. For a new trial, check whether CanOpener has announced a replacement through its official channels; this review did not verify one.
Can demo guides or saves carry over?
Treat old walkthroughs as version-specific observations. The removal announcement explicitly warns of substantial differences, so recipes, menu steps and progression advice need a fresh check.
We have not verified an official save-transfer guarantee. Preserve an old save if it matters to you, but do not overwrite a current campaign or promise compatibility based only on the two products sharing a name.