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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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If AI was not identified, how would I know if a game was actually worth spending $80.00 on it. (Other than all the extra fingers on the characters) Half the labour input should = half the selling price. Why would I pay full price for slop?
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Says man whose store is worse than Steam in every conceivable aspect, and failing to generate single pennies of profit. Sure mate, kindly bug off while you're at it.
Last edited by rea987 on 27 Nov 2025 at 6:08 pm UTC
Last edited by rea987 on 27 Nov 2025 at 6:08 pm UTC
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Well, i think i'll never stay away from epic then, thank you. I can´t even be bothered to even look at their freebies anymore.
People tell me AI will be everywhere, but then people tell windows is everywhere.
Maybe, but not here, and i am thankful for that. :)
People tell me AI will be everywhere, but then people tell windows is everywhere.
Maybe, but not here, and i am thankful for that. :)
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Mountain Man 3 hours ago
Quoting: ArehandoroIf 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.That is one of the dumber excuses for piracy I've come across. If a game uses generative AI, but you still want to play it, then pay your money and play it legally. Otherwise, stand on principle and don't play it at all.
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Well I wasn't sure what I thought about this, but if Sweeney thinks the labels are unnecessary and pointless, they're probably a good idea.
I'm not sure I see the point of his objection, anyway. Like, PEGI-13 games are ubiquitous, guess there's no point age-rating games.
I'm not sure I see the point of his objection, anyway. Like, PEGI-13 games are ubiquitous, guess there's no point age-rating games.
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Typical Sweeney BS. In the same ballpark as his claim that using Linux is like moving to Canada.
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Kimyrielle 2 hours ago
First time ever I agree with Sweeney on anything. But he's right. It makes zero sense to disclose that you're using AI tools when a good approximation to 100% of all developers either already do, or will do soon. Right now, people are so obsessed with pouring hate on AI generated/assisted art assets that they're forgetting that pretty much all software developers are already using AI tools for coding, at least in some capacity. Guys, that stuff is going into games as we speak, but unlike art assets, you just can't see it.
It makes even less sense considering that in, say, 2-3 years from here, even experts will probably be unable to tell if an asset is AI generated or not, which will render the remaining discussion about whether or not to put labels on it, obsolete, too.
My personal take: We should start embracing what cannot be stopped anyway, and rather talk about how to compensate artists, writers and coders for using their assets for AI training. That's the real issue, at least in my opinion.
It makes even less sense considering that in, say, 2-3 years from here, even experts will probably be unable to tell if an asset is AI generated or not, which will render the remaining discussion about whether or not to put labels on it, obsolete, too.
My personal take: We should start embracing what cannot be stopped anyway, and rather talk about how to compensate artists, writers and coders for using their assets for AI training. That's the real issue, at least in my opinion.
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@Kimyrielle
Uh, that's not a great take, tbh. "It's gonna happen, so just accept it"? Nah.
Maybe you're right about the coding element. Despite evidence that using AI tools for development actually slows you down, that's only true for experienced developers. A lot of indie studios are probably using genAI tools built into their integrated development environments (IDE) and you're right, that ship has probably sailed. After all, who's going to champion all the GPL licenses they stomped on to train that model?
However, art, music and voice acting are a whole 'nother story. These AI assets are very much not only built on non-attributed, probably copyrighted work, but when they're used in a game, they're also actively putting artists, musicians and voice actors out of work.
I'm not having that. So these disclosures are extremely important (to me).
Uh, that's not a great take, tbh. "It's gonna happen, so just accept it"? Nah.
Maybe you're right about the coding element. Despite evidence that using AI tools for development actually slows you down, that's only true for experienced developers. A lot of indie studios are probably using genAI tools built into their integrated development environments (IDE) and you're right, that ship has probably sailed. After all, who's going to champion all the GPL licenses they stomped on to train that model?
However, art, music and voice acting are a whole 'nother story. These AI assets are very much not only built on non-attributed, probably copyrighted work, but when they're used in a game, they're also actively putting artists, musicians and voice actors out of work.
I'm not having that. So these disclosures are extremely important (to me).
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Amazon cut around 14,000 jobs.. the roles were stuff like "human resources, operations, and devices, with some media and communications roles"
Amazon cited "the need to be organized "more leanly" and seize opportunities presented by ai"
This is the answer I got from google ai overview lol, maybe I need to practise what I preach
Then there's deep fakes and it's moving quite rapidly, ai was obviously fake few years ago but it's improved alot and will continue to improve, when any video of a corruption politician or criminal could be passed off as "fake" or "fake news" as certain people like to call it
Then there's the fact of how much water and electrict needed for the ai, remember that next time your energy bills go up!
Last edited by Doktor-Mandrake on 27 Nov 2025 at 10:04 pm UTC
Amazon cited "the need to be organized "more leanly" and seize opportunities presented by ai"
This is the answer I got from google ai overview lol, maybe I need to practise what I preach
Then there's deep fakes and it's moving quite rapidly, ai was obviously fake few years ago but it's improved alot and will continue to improve, when any video of a corruption politician or criminal could be passed off as "fake" or "fake news" as certain people like to call it
Then there's the fact of how much water and electrict needed for the ai, remember that next time your energy bills go up!
Last edited by Doktor-Mandrake on 27 Nov 2025 at 10:04 pm UTC
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Kimyrielle 1 hour ago
It's not just the indies that use AI coding tools. I guess they're actually slower with adopting these than the big studios, where the managers jumped out of their seats when somebody pointed at ChatGPT and said "productivity gains here!!!".
Thing is that these tools DO make you more productive, if you're using them right (which is why they're getting adopted by coders). Some less-than-competent managers thought they can fully replace SWE jobs though, and they just can't. Also, the productivity increase isn't 1000%, or whatever these clowns said it would be. But 10% is probably realistic. You save a lot of time by just not having to ask/look around StackExchange a lot anymore, and by letting the AI code some standard problems for you.
What I personally don't get is some people saying "Yeah...I guess AI is fine for coding, but it can't EVER be allowed to do art!!!" I am not sure I understand the difference. I am pretty sure there are several ten thousand lines of my code in all of the larger models. At least I would be insulted if they hadn't gobbled up my stuff from GitHub while they gobbled up everyone else's. And no, I didn't get asked, either. It's really the same thing as using images or songs. The irony is that as far as I can tell, as of today a lot more coders lost their job over AI than artists. People just don't defend coders with the same vigor. ;)
Thing is that these tools DO make you more productive, if you're using them right (which is why they're getting adopted by coders). Some less-than-competent managers thought they can fully replace SWE jobs though, and they just can't. Also, the productivity increase isn't 1000%, or whatever these clowns said it would be. But 10% is probably realistic. You save a lot of time by just not having to ask/look around StackExchange a lot anymore, and by letting the AI code some standard problems for you.
What I personally don't get is some people saying "Yeah...I guess AI is fine for coding, but it can't EVER be allowed to do art!!!" I am not sure I understand the difference. I am pretty sure there are several ten thousand lines of my code in all of the larger models. At least I would be insulted if they hadn't gobbled up my stuff from GitHub while they gobbled up everyone else's. And no, I didn't get asked, either. It's really the same thing as using images or songs. The irony is that as far as I can tell, as of today a lot more coders lost their job over AI than artists. People just don't defend coders with the same vigor. ;)
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@scaine
Why is code generation trivial while "art, music and voice acting" is inherantly important? Is a pathfinding algorithim truly more trivial than a rock texture or a water splash sound? Surely if its objectionable for one it is also for the latter. My biggest beef with a lot of AI reactions is the implicit deifying of "creative" work in comparison to anything else that has been automated. Artists deserve a living, but they are not unique in that.
Why is code generation trivial while "art, music and voice acting" is inherantly important? Is a pathfinding algorithim truly more trivial than a rock texture or a water splash sound? Surely if its objectionable for one it is also for the latter. My biggest beef with a lot of AI reactions is the implicit deifying of "creative" work in comparison to anything else that has been automated. Artists deserve a living, but they are not unique in that.
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Quoting: KimyrielleIt's not just the indies that use AI coding tools. I guess they're actually slower with adopting these than the big studios, where the managers jumped out of their seats when somebody pointed at ChatGPT and said "productivity gains here!!!".
Thing is that these tools DO make you more productive, if you're using them right (which is why they're getting adopted by coders). Some less-than-competent managers thought they can fully replace SWE jobs though, and they just can't. Also, the productivity increase isn't 1000%, or whatever these clowns said it would be. But 10% is probably realistic. You save a lot of time by just not having to ask/look around StackExchange a lot anymore, and by letting the AI code some standard problems for you.
What I personally don't get is some people saying "Yeah...I guess AI is fine for coding, but it can't EVER be allowed to do art!!!" I am not sure I understand the difference. I am pretty sure there are several ten thousand lines of my code in all of the larger models. At least I would be insulted if they hadn't gobbled up my stuff from GitHub while they gobbled up everyone else's. And no, I didn't get asked, either. It's really the same thing as using images or songs. The irony is that as far as I can tell, as of today a lot more coders lost their job over AI than artists. People just don't defend coders with the same vigor. ;)
Just because they *can* be used right, doesn't mean that they are. So let them disclose it. Disclosure are always good for the consumer. But those people advocating to hide that must have something to hide.
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Kimyrielle 59 minutes ago
@Ehvis, the point being made by Sweeney (which I have to agree with him on, even when it pains me to have to take his side) is that it's utterly pointless to require labeling, if close to 100% of all games are using the tech anyway. That's like requiring a "contains nuts" label on a pack of peanuts. Sure, you can do that. It just doesn't make any sense.
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Quoting: Kimyrielle@Ehvis, the point being made by Sweeney (which I have to agree with him on, even when it pains me to have to take his side) is that it's utterly pointless to require labeling, if close to 100% of all games are using the tech anyway. That's like requiring a "contains nuts" label on a pack of peanuts. Sure, you can do that. It just doesn't make any sense.
The labelling is not just about the "if". It's about the "how".
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