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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Back in June, we shared that while our goal continues to be shipping as many games as possible on Steam, we needed some time to learn about the fast-moving and legally murky space of AI technology, especially given Steam's worldwide reach.

Today, after spending the last few months learning more about this space and talking with game developers, we are making changes to how we handle games that use AI technology. This will enable us to release the vast majority of games that use it.

First, we are updating the Content Survey that developers fill out when submitting to Steam. The survey now includes a new AI disclosure section, where you'll need to describe how you are using AI in the development and execution of your game. It separates AI usage in games into two broad categories:

• Pre-Generated: Any kind of content (art/code/sound/etc) created with the help of AI tools during development. Under the Steam Distribution Agreement, you promise Valve that your game will not include illegal or infringing content, and that your game will be consistent with your marketing materials. In our pre-release review, we will evaluate the output of AI generated content in your game the same way we evaluate all non-AI content - including a check that your game meets those promises.
• Live-Generated: Any kind of content created with the help of AI tools while the game is running. In addition to following the same rules as Pre-Generated AI content, this comes with an additional requirement: in the Content Survey, you'll need to tell us what kind of guardrails you're putting on your AI to ensure it's not generating illegal content.

Valve will use this disclosure in our review of your game prior to release. We will also include much of your disclosure on the Steam store page for your game, so customers can also understand how the game uses AI.

Second, we're releasing a new system on Steam that allows players to report illegal content inside games that contain Live-Generated AI content. Using the in-game overlay, players can easily submit a report when they encounter content that they believe should have been caught by appropriate guardrails on AI generation.

Today's changes are the result of us improving our understanding of the landscape and risks in this space, as well as talking to game developers using AI, and those building AI tools. This will allow us to be much more open to releasing games using AI technology on Steam. The only exception to this will be Adult Only Sexual Content that is created with Live-Generated AI - we are unable to release that type of content right now.

It's taken us some time to figure this out, and we're sorry that has made it harder for some developers to make decisions around their games. But we don't feel like we serve our players or developer partners by rushing into decisions that have this much complexity. We'll continue to learn from the games being submitted to Steam, and the legal progress around AI, and will revisit this decision when necessary.

Steamworks Development - AI Content on Steam - Steam News

Back in June, we shared that while our goal continues to be shipping as many games as possible on Steam, we needed some time to learn about the fast-moving and legally murky space of AI technology, especially given Steam's worldwide reach. Today, after spending the last few months learning more...

store.steampowered.com

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

That actually sounds like a well thought out policy. I'd be interested to learn more about that AI generated Adult content part, where they're sure they can't allow that right now - what are the reasons here, besides copyright infringement (which is covered by the other rules)? The next few years will be entertaining.

 

[Denton]

The problem with these AI stuffs is that it will be used both by grifters just trying to make a buck, and by AAA studios.

So even if Valve lets me filter out games containing AI content, it will not really help.

 

[Loomy]

The problem with these AI stuffs is that it will be used both by grifters just trying to make a buck, and by AAA studios.

So even if Valve lets me filter out games containing AI content, it will not really help.

To be fair, grifters already try to abuse the system. Most recently with The Day Before. The only thing these new policies are doing is letting Valve make sure devs are not infringing on any copyrights or doing anything that will cost Valve money in refunds.

 

[diablos991]

Who cares if it's AI generated if the content is good?

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Valve has ‘significantly’ rewritten Steam’s rules for how developers must disclose AI use | VGC

The rewritten rules clarify that ‘AI powered tools’ do not require a disclosure…

www.videogameschronicle.com

As spotted by GameDiscoverCo's Simon Carless, Valve has made it clearer that 'AI-powered tools' such as code helpers do not require a disclosure, and that "efficiency gains through the use of [AI-powered dev tools] is not the focus" of its efforts.

The first of the two types of AI use that developers will have to disclose is "AI to generate content for the game", whether that is within the game, on its store page, or in marketing materials.

The second is "AI content generated during gameplay" and whether the game in question generates AI-created "images, audio, text, and other content".

Since 2024, Valve has required developers to disclose on Steam whether generative AI was used in the creation of their games. This then appears on the game's store page in a section called 'AI Generated Content Disclosure'.

In July 2025, an analysis found that nearly 8,000 titles released on Steam in the first six months of 2025 had disclosed the use of generative AI, compared to around 1,000 during the entirety of 2024.

However, although Steam requires games that use generative AI in their development to disclose the use, such disclosures are voluntary, so the actual number of games created using GenAI is likely higher than the 8,000 figure.

 

[Durin]

It's nice that they're altering the policy, and I assume they'll probably have to do so again as we see what developers do.

AI doesn't just mean generate images off copyrighted work, but the luddites out there will conflate it regardless.

Will echo though, none of the AI use will matter to the vast majority of people if the game is good.

 

[Sorcerer]

One thing I don't understand about how Valve operates. They don't have many employees; how do they have the time and the manpower to "review of your game prior to release"? It seems the number of games that release on Steam in a week is simply overwhelming. And about Steam Verified, does the developer test that or does Valve undertake that task, and again how?

 

[Fess]

Devs have used tools to generate scenery and trees and humans for years. Slap AI infront of a name for a tool and it's a problem.