Valve has stated it will not act as gatekeepers by banning AI-generated games on Steam, despite growing complaints about 'AI slop' and cloned titles. During a recent panel at the Steam Indie Connect developer event, Valve representatives Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson addressed concerns from developers who report their games being cloned using AI from demos and PR materials. Giardino emphasized that Valve does not want to dictate which tools developers use, advising instead that creators differentiate their games by building community, establishing identity, and continuously adding unique features and personality.
He noted that game cloning has always existed, but AI has made it more prevalent. The company also acknowledged reports of extortion, where clones are threatened for release unless money is paid, and urged developers to report such cases directly to Valve for investigation. Regarding the influx of low-quality AI games in Steam Next Fest, Marc Wilkinson explained that the event’s recommendation system uses randomized visibility for the first two days before shifting to personalized recommendations, aiming to help original titles stand out.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing