What Valve's AI Stance Means for Your Next Fest Wishlist

Valve's stance means players may continue to see AI-generated games in Next Fest, but the company is working on smarter systems to surface quality titles. Developers are urged to focus on unique creat…

Valve's stance means players may continue to see AI-generated games in Next Fest, but the company is working on smarter systems to surface quality titles. Developers are urged to focus on unique creat…

Key points - Valve's Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson addressed AI concerns at Steam Indie Connect in South Korea. - Valve refuses to act as gatekeepers, letting developers choose their tools including generative AI. - Steam Next Fest's early randomness exposes low-quality games but aims for fairness overall. - Next Fest has grown from 50-100 games to an overwhelming scale, changing success metrics. - Steam enforces AI disclosures on games using the technology, a move supported by devs.

Timeline - Recent Steam Next Fest: Event flooded with AI-generated games, drawing criticism from former dev Chet Faliszek. - Steam Indie Connect in South Korea: Valve's Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson discuss AI issue and platform philosophy. - A few years ago: Next Fest had only 50-100 games; Valve had to convince devs to join. - Present: Steam enforces AI disclosures; Valve seeks smarter platform without limiting access.

FAQ

Q: Why is Steam Next Fest suddenly full of AI games? A: Generative AI tools have made it easier for developers to quickly create clone games, flooding the event with low-quality titles.

Q: Is Valve going to ban AI-generated games? A: No, Valve says it doesn't want to be a gatekeeper and believes developers should choose their own tools, including AI.

Q: How does Valve decide which games get featured in Next Fest? A: Early days use a somewhat random selection to prevent abuse, later shifting to personalized recommendations based on player behavior.