Valve Enforces New Regulations on AI-Powered Game Releases on Steam

Valve has released new rules on how game developers can publish games using artificial intelligence (AI) technology on its Steam platform. In a blog post, the company states that it is "changing the way we handle games that use AI technology," which means developers will need to disclose when their games use AI technology. These changes "will allow us to release the majority of games that use AI," the Valve post mentions.

These changes appear to aim at increasing transparency regarding the use of AI in Steam games, while also providing protection against the risks of using AI-generated content and allowing customers to make informed choices when purchasing games that use AI technology.

According to the new rules, developers will need to disclose when their games include pre-generated content created with the help of AI, such as artwork, code, or sound, and ensure that this content is not "illegal or infringing." They will also need to indicate if their game has AI-generated content generated "on the fly" during gameplay, in which case developers need to provide detailed information on the security measures they have taken to prevent their AI from generating illegal content. Players will be able to see if a game includes AI on the game's store page and will have new options to report illegal AI-generated content encountered in the game.

The release of the new rules comes approximately six months after several developers complained that Valve rejected Steam game submissions that included AI-generated assets. In one case, Valve stated that a submitted game included "art assets generated by AI that appear to rely on copyrighted material owned by third parties." It stated that it could not release such a game unless its developers could confirm "they have all IP rights to the dataset used to train the AI to create the assets."

In a subsequent statement released in July, Valve spokesperson Kaci Boyle clarified that the company's goal is "not to hinder the use of [AI] on Steam; instead, we are exploring how to integrate it into our existing review policies." They added that Valve's review process "reflects current copyright laws and policies, not an additional layer of our own views. As these laws and policies evolve over time, our processes will also evolve."

While some developers are enthusiastic about integrating new technologies into their games and production processes, the industry as a whole has differing views on the use of generative AI. On one hand, several studios discuss using AI to assist with game testing, early concept design, or to help complete expensive parts of game development, such as sound recording sessions. However, others are concerned that AI may be used to cheaply replace existing artists and other creative professionals (reports of this already emerging) and are opposed to companies that release AI-generated assets.

Valve's blog post suggests that the company's attitude and rules regarding AI-generated content are likely to change as technology and its legal framework evolve. "We will continue to learn from games submitted to Steam and from legal developments surrounding AI, and re-evaluate this decision as necessary," it says.