Valve Clears the Air on AI-Generated Content in Steam Games

Valve, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, has recently addressed rumors about its stance on games featuring AI-generated content.

The rumors suggested that such games were being banned from the platform, causing confusion and concern among game developers.

The Origin of the Rumor

The rumor originated from a Reddit post by a user named potterharry97, who claimed to be an aspiring game developer. The user stated that they had attempted to publish a game on Steam that included AI-generated assets. However, the game was allegedly barred from the platform.

The reason given was that Steam could not host games for which the developer did not possess all necessary rights. The developer was instructed to remove all AI-generated content or provide proof of ownership of all content used to train the AI that generated the assets.

Valve’s Response

In response to the controversy stirred by the Reddit post, Valve issued a statement to clarify its position on AI-generated content in games. The company stated that it does not discourage the use of AI tools in game development. Any bans on such content are a reflection of current copyright laws and policies, not an expression of the company’s opinion.

Valve also acknowledged the legal uncertainties surrounding AI technology, which is new and rapidly evolving. The company stated that its process for reviewing and approving new games is also evolving in tandem with changes in laws and policies in the countries where it operates.

The Current Status of AI-Generated Content on Steam

Despite Valve’s clarification, it appears that games featuring AI-generated content are currently not allowed on Steam. This is due to the copyright concerns associated with such content. Valve is not the only company to take this stance. For instance, the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival announced in April that it would ban AI-generated art due to similar copyright issues.

The use of AI tools to create art has sparked debates on the internet, with critics arguing that these tools simply repurpose the work of real artists for others to use. Despite the potential of AI, the legal and ethical issues surrounding its use in art and game development remain unresolved.

Valve’s statement provides some clarity on the company’s stance on AI tools. However, it also highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainties associated with the use of AI in game development.

Hopefully, this will turn out to be a peaceful resolve made by the company given that the next Steam Fest is undergoing in anytime now.