Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Criticizes Steam’s AI Disclosure Requirement, Calls It “Irresponsible”
Since artificial intelligence has become a common part of video game development, Valve has required studios that use AI to clearly state it on their Steam game pages.
This policy has drawn criticism from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who has once again spoken out against the company.
According to Sweeney, forcing developers to reveal how they used AI in making their games is irresponsible and harmful to the industry. He believes the requirement can lead to players boycotting games simply because they include AI.
Tim Sweeney Says Valve’s AI Disclosure Requirement Hurts Game Developers
Speaking to PC Gamer, Sweeney defended developers who are affected by the rule. He argued that the policy makes it much harder for games to succeed because there is a strong community of people who are against the use of AI.
He said, “It’s unfortunate that so many developers now are put into this position. If you want to launch a game, and get it as widely publicized as possible, you’ve got to put it on Steam so people can wish list it, and if you want to play it on Steam, then you have to get this Scarlet Letter of AI attached to your product, and now there is a hater community trying to kill the game.”
“I think it’s really irresponsible of Valve. They shouldn’t do it, because it makes it much, much, much harder for a game developer to have a chance of success,” he added. “You have to choose from either not using tools that can make you way more productive, and probably failing due to competition that does.”
While Sweeney does make some good points, it is hard to say Valve’s decision is “irresponsible.” Players have the right to know how a game was made, and this requirement helps make Steam a more transparent platform for its users.
Sweeney might also be a wee bit biased given Steam is his company’s biggest rival in the online digital game retail space.
In related news, nearly 20% of games released on Steam in 2025 have disclosed using generative AI, which represents an 800% increase from the previous year.
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