Valve and Tim Sweeney remain at odds over store policies.
The Epic Games CEO recently challenged Steam’s requirement that developers disclose their use of generative AI in games. He argues that this mandate puts studios at a disadvantage and could hurt the commercial performance of their titles.
Sweeney claims that mandatory AI labels function as a stigma. Developers rely on Steam to reach players and build wishlists, yet these disclosures invite unnecessary backlash from portions of the gaming community.
Sweeney believes Valve makes development more hazardous by forcing studios to choose between transparency and controversy. He suggests that avoiding AI tools hinders team efficiency and hurts competitiveness in the industry.
Many players and experts defend the Valve approach. They maintain that customers deserve to know how a product was built, as transparency helps users make informed purchasing decisions.
This stance aligns with Epic Games’ internal strategy to integrate AI into its own software. The upcoming Unreal Engine 6 will likely feature expanded support for these tools.
Source: iXBT.games