Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 2 hrs ago
Valve says it is working on Steam’s AI game flood, but won’t ban AI tools
Valve says a significant number of people are working on Steam’s AI game problem.
The issue was discussed at Steam Indie Connect, an event for game developers in South Korea.
Developers said AI-generated games and copies make it harder for original indie games to stand out, especially during Steam Next Fest.
Valve said it will not act as a gatekeeper by limiting which tools developers can use.
Valve advised developers to keep adding features and building a community, arguing that distinctive games are harder to copy.
It also said Next Fest recommendations start out random, then become personalized based on player activity, and acknowledged that some low-quality games are exposed in the meantime.
Valve says making Steam smarter is its starting point, but it has not announced a specific solution or timeline.
Valve says it is working on ways to address low-quality AI games and visibility problems on Steam.
At Steam Indie Connect in Korea, Valve staff said the company would not restrict developer access based on the tools they use.
Valve’s Marc Wilkinson said Steam Next Fest recommendations start randomly and become personalized based on user activity.
Valve said it recognizes that the system can expose users to low-quality games and that many people are considering solutions.
Developers have raised concerns that AI-generated clones can copy games from early footage or demos and reach the market first.
- Who
- Valve staff Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson addressed questions from game developers.
- What
- Valve said it is considering ways to address AI-related game quality and visibility issues on Steam, but does not plan to gatekeep developers based on their tools.
- When
- At Steam Indie Connect; the event date is not stated. The articles were published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Steam Indie Connect in Korea.
- Why
- Developers raised concerns about low-quality AI games making it harder for games to be discovered, and about AI clones copying their work.
Developers concerned about AI games
Valve
Discoverability
Developers concerned about AI games
Developers said it is harder to stand out among low-quality AI games on storefronts, especially during Steam Next Fest.
Valve
Valve said personalized recommendations begin after the first two days and help players find games they may like.
AI clones
Developers concerned about AI games
Developers are concerned that bad actors use AI to copy games from early footage and demos and bring inferior copies to market first.
Valve
Valve said clones existed before AI and that it does not want to decide which tools developers can use.
Recommendations are completely random, according to Valve.
Recommendations become personalized based on user activity.
- Event
- Steam Indie Connect in Korea
- Valve staff
- Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson
- Next Fest recommendations
- Random during the first two days, then personalized
- Steam Next Fest demos last year
- Roughly 17% disclosed using generative AI
- Steam Next Fest demos this year
- More than 8,000 demos were hosted during the event
3 sources
Valve Knows Steam Has An AI Slop Problem And Has A ‘Significant Number Of People’ Working On It
Valve 'Thinking About How to Solve' Steam's AI Slop Problem, but Won't Limit Developer Access
Valve has ‘a significant number’ working on Steam’s visibility dilemma but says it won’t gatekeep games made with AI
What people are saying
We recognize that the trade-off is that some low-quality games get exposed
We are fully aware of the situation, and a significant number of people are thinking about how to solve this problem.
We don't want to be gatekeepers telling developers which tools they should or shouldn't use
We don't think we're perfect and there's plenty of room for improvement.