Valve Updates Guidelines To Allow AI-Generated Content On Steam

It seems that in the war against artists and AI, the latter has managed to eke out a victory under the noses of everyone involved. After adamantly taking a stand against games using AI-generated content, Valve has now updated its content survey to include games that use AI-generated content in their development. The announcement comes from an official Steam forum post by Valve. 

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.”

Valve will now include an AI disclosure section in their content survey, which would require developers to specify how exactly AI is being used in their games. Valve has separated this into two distinct categories: Pre-generated and Live-generated. The former essentially means any content worked on during the development of a game, while the latter is post-launch support, which requires developers to tell Valve “what kind of guardrails you’re putting on your AI to ensure it’s not generating illegal content.”

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.”

Valve also highlights that disclosure on how AI is used for the game will also be included in the Steam store page for the game to give players an idea of what to expect. Furthermore, players will now have the option to directly report content for copyright infringement through the in-game overlay. 

“Approved by affected members of the union’s voiceover performer community.”

Like who?

… Were any one of us asked about this?

Rethink this, @sagaftra

— David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) January 10, 2024

For the uninitiated, this might be the next major push for AI-generated content in games. This also comes fresh off the heels of the actor’s union SAG-AFTRA securing a deal for AI voice acting licensing. Many voice actors in the industry have spoken out against SAG-AFTRA’s decision including Elias Toufexis, the voice actor for Adam Jensen in the Deus Ex games, and Metal Gear voice actor, David Hayter.

Even so, it’s a tough day for artists and creatives who have been protesting against AI since the beginning. It’s not hard to imagine that Valve’s decision may have opened the floodgates for AI-generated content on Steam, which means that there’s very likely going to be an influx in games that use AI for development.