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PayPalWith the increasing amount of games using AI, Epic Game's Tim Sweeney believes the AI messages on stores like Steam make no sense.
Currently, if a game that's released on Steam uses generative AI in some way, it needs to be disclosed. Developers have to go through a content survey on their games to detail things like mature content and AI use. From Valve's own public rules on it as a reminder first:
If your game used AI services during development or incorporates AI services as a part of the product, this section will require you to describe that implementation in detail:
- Pre-Generated: Any kind of content (art/code/sound/etc) created with the help of AI tools during development. Under the Steam Distribution Agreement, you promise Valve that your game will not include illegal or infringing content, and that your game will be consistent with your marketing materials. In our prerelease review, we will evaluate the output of AI generated content in your game the same way we evaluate all non-AI content - including a check that your game meets those promises.
- Live-Generated: Any kind of content created with the help of AI tools while the game is running. In addition to following the same rules as Pre-Generated AI content, this comes with an additional requirement - in the Content Survey, you'll need to tell us what kind of guardrails you're putting on your AI to ensure it's not generating illegal content.
You've probably seen the notices buried at the bottom of Steam store pages, like this one for Stellaris from Paradox Interactive:
Which you can make much bigger and clearer so you don't miss them with a browser plugin covered here on GamingOnLinux recently.
Jumping into the discussion now is Epic Game's CEO Tim Sweeney, posting a reply to someone on X (Twitter):
It's no surprise that Sweeney is in favour of it, with games like Fortnite previously using AI like being able to chat with Darth Vader.
The situation with generative AI is evolving constantly, but even Sweeney here notes there are rights issues. To be more specific: a lot of the generative AI models used everywhere are trained on material without the permission of the original author of various works. There's been many lawsuits on it to the point that I don't think I need to rehash any of that here - they're all reported on constantly in depth elsewhere.
Even if it does end up everywhere, it's still a good thing to know how it's being used - isn't it? It's a discussion that swings wildly between camps. AI slop makers and people in favour of AI generation will naturally not want these types of notices and will fight against them, while the other side no doubt value seeing the notice to make more informed purchasing decisions.
One thing is for sure - generative AI is complicating everything and companies are repeatedly enshittifying their products with generative AI, and it's going to continue on for some time.
What are your thoughts on the AI disclosures? Leave a comment.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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It's the unfortunate truth. I've already seen many steam games with *obvious* traces of AI art that don't have the AI disclosure. Tracking and enforcing it is futile. (Which doesn't mean we shouldn't at least try.)
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Owner of a featureless store claims the features of the featureful competitor are irrelevant.
News at 11.
News at 11.
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As long there is considerable consumer demand for these labels, they should exist.
Even when there're liars at least the consumer can call them out(including at court for misleading advertising)
The consumer pays and is thus the boss. If you don't want to play by their rules a healthy market must punish you.
Otherwise the market loses its primary selling point compared to government involvement: competition leads to motivation to offer better products.
Even when there're liars at least the consumer can call them out(including at court for misleading advertising)
The consumer pays and is thus the boss. If you don't want to play by their rules a healthy market must punish you.
Otherwise the market loses its primary selling point compared to government involvement: competition leads to motivation to offer better products.
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As always he doesn't lose a chance to advocate for less transparency and worse customer service.
But I can surely entertain the idea that the concept should be reversed: not an "AI generated content" badge but rather an "AI content free" one.
But I can surely entertain the idea that the concept should be reversed: not an "AI generated content" badge but rather an "AI content free" one.
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Mountain Man 5 hours ago
I think game developers, filmmakers, music artists, and others should go the other way and make a point of trumpeting when their product doesn't use any kind of generative AI. The following disclaimer could become the mark of quality and artistic integrity:
"No generative artificial intelligence was used for the creation of this work."
Last edited by Mountain Man on 27 Nov 2025 at 2:06 pm UTC
"No generative artificial intelligence was used for the creation of this work."
Last edited by Mountain Man on 27 Nov 2025 at 2:06 pm UTC
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Arehandoro 4 hours ago
If a game uses AI models that have been trained on material without the content of their authors (Spoiler, all of them) I consider that game to be built illegally, and as such, I will obtain it and play it via "illegal" methods.
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Quoting: syylkOwner of a featureless store claims the features of the featureful competitor are irrelevant.
News at 11.
"Doing something is pointless so we are actually ahead of the curve for once because we are doing jack shit."
;)
Last edited by Brokatt on 27 Nov 2025 at 2:28 pm UTC
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GustyGhost 4 hours ago
But I can surely entertain the idea that the concept should be reversed: not an "AI generated content" badge but rather an "AI content free" one.
This is the most logical approach. And maybe a category to search by "Human-made".
If a game uses AI models that have been trained on material without the content of their authors (Spoiler, all of them) I consider that game to be built illegally, and as such, I will obtain it and play it via "illegal" methods.
I've long grappled with the idea whether the eye patch is truly a form of protest. For example, simply owning and playing the game lends player numbers, time and attention for a project even if you avoided paying for it. If a game promotes some harm, is it preferable to avoid it entirely and let it rot in lonely silence?
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Does anyone treat this clown's views seriously these days? Tim Sweeney is just trying to make everything in the opposite way to Steam.
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I'm neutral on AI (if the product is good, I don't care either way), but I would like to point out that the example of Darth Vader in Fortnite from the article was, from what I understand, a smashing success that the players greatly enjoyed.
You can argue about where the training data comes from and if you don't want to buy it, don't. Heck, I even support your decision. I'd even call it noble, but understand the the vast majority of people simply don't care how the sausage is made as long as it is delicious. Our whole world is filled with literal exploitation for things like rare earth metals in our gadgets, and almost no one even bats an eye.
You can argue about where the training data comes from and if you don't want to buy it, don't. Heck, I even support your decision. I'd even call it noble, but understand the the vast majority of people simply don't care how the sausage is made as long as it is delicious. Our whole world is filled with literal exploitation for things like rare earth metals in our gadgets, and almost no one even bats an eye.
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ScottCarammell 3 hours ago
Quoting: eggroleI'm neutral on AI (if the product is good, I don't care either way), but I would like to point out that the example of Darth Vader in Fortnite from the article was, from what I understand, a smashing success that the players greatly enjoyed.Your entire profile on this website is dedicated to defending the honor of AI, why should I listen to you?
You can argue about where the training data comes from and if you don't want to buy it, don't. Heck, I even support your decision. I'd even call it noble, but understand the the vast majority of people simply don't care how the sausage is made as long as it is delicious. Our whole world is filled with literal exploitation for things like rare earth metals in our gadgets, and almost no one even bats an eye.
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According to Sweeny, Gamestores don't need a shopping cart or forums or anything useful either ;)
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Quoting: Liam DaweAI slop makers and people in favour of AI generation will naturally not want these types of notices and will fight against themI don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I’m against the excessive and blind use of LLMs, but I recognize their usefulness and have used them for some inconsequential things (namely, a few images for a role-playing game between friends, and pointing me in the right direction when programming). I still vastly prefer to consume artwork that was made without it, including games, and want those disclosures.
It matters to me how and how much it was used. I don’t mind if the devs used Stable Diffusion to create drafts and placeholders, then had an artist make the final versions of assets. I do mind if the whole visual aspect is generated, but I might give it a pass for tiny indie teams making free games. I absolutely will not buy a game that was written or translated by an LLM. The way Steam requires not only disclosure, but this level of detail, was an unexpected gift for me.
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Quoting: GustyGhostBut I can surely entertain the idea that the concept should be reversed: not an "AI generated content" badge but rather an "AI content free" one.
This is the most logical approach. And maybe a category to search by "Human-made".
I'd like an option to filter my Steam experience based on that. I wonder how many people would choose to do that if a feature like that was there. If it's high and it was reflected in the steamworks backend, then it might actually be effective. Of course, it might push devs to lie on the page and just claim "mistake" when they get caught.
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"Your drink will contain sewage, and we see no reason to warn you about that."
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It is remarkable how Tim Sweeney has managed to completely reinvent himself: from an exceptionally skilled software developer in the late 90s to an Infinite Bad Takes Generator today.
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"If AI was so wonderful, the rich would have kept more of it for themselves." --paraphrasing Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
As businesses get cleverer at exploiting AI, AI gets better at exploiting people, and the rich get richer exploiting both, where are the 'wins' for the average person? Remember when the internet was supposed to level the playing field, increase availability of information, and raise entire societies out of ignorance and poverty? AI proponents aren't even claiming that now.
Instead, we're told (from the top) that AI is the future, AI will be everywhere, and we might as well get used to it. No whispers of intangible benefits to humanity, no pointing at significantly better outcomes for society. No mention anywhere of guard rails, sensible regulation, incremental testing, or 'disaster planning'. Just speeding headlong into the future, hoping to extract more gold from the peasantry.
Little Timmy can go play with his AI toys. I'm not going to fund his bratty behavior.
As businesses get cleverer at exploiting AI, AI gets better at exploiting people, and the rich get richer exploiting both, where are the 'wins' for the average person? Remember when the internet was supposed to level the playing field, increase availability of information, and raise entire societies out of ignorance and poverty? AI proponents aren't even claiming that now.
Instead, we're told (from the top) that AI is the future, AI will be everywhere, and we might as well get used to it. No whispers of intangible benefits to humanity, no pointing at significantly better outcomes for society. No mention anywhere of guard rails, sensible regulation, incremental testing, or 'disaster planning'. Just speeding headlong into the future, hoping to extract more gold from the peasantry.
Little Timmy can go play with his AI toys. I'm not going to fund his bratty behavior.
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Ahh… and then everyone is suprised why Epicstore sucks and noone wants to buy anythig there and even free games don't help that much with it… oh Timmy :D
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It is remarkable how Tim Sweeney has managed to completely reinvent himself: from an exceptionally skilled software developer in the late 90s to an Infinite Bad Takes Generator today.
He'd be the easiest element to replace with AI.
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Of course he said that. He's a billionaire who has a deeply vested interest in AI continuing to take over as it means more money and control. I hate AI so much. They are killing the planet with this crap and they don't care because most of these companies are owned and invested in by elderly people who feel that it's not their problem what happens because they will be long dead while the rest of us will have to struggle to survive the climate catastrophe.
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