Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, criticised Valve’s PC game distribution platform Steam over its AI disclosure requirements during an interview at Unreal Fest Chicago 2026, according to medianama.com. Sweeney argued that the policy unfairly stigmatizes developers by attaching a "Scarlet Letter of AI" to games using AI in development, which he said makes it harder for developers to succeed on Steam.
Sweeney explained that developers aiming for the widest audience must release their games on Steam, but the AI disclosure label attracts hostility from a "hater community" trying to undermine those games. He said the policy discourages the use of legitimate AI development tools and disproportionately hurts smaller studios that rely on AI to compete with larger publishers in an expensive market.
The criticism highlights tensions in the gaming industry over how AI tools are integrated and disclosed. Steam’s policy aims to increase transparency about AI usage, but Sweeney’s comments underscore concerns that such disclosures could harm developers’ commercial prospects. The debate reflects broader challenges in balancing innovation with consumer awareness in digital content platforms.
Sweeney’s remarks at Unreal Fest Chicago 2026 mark a notable public challenge to Valve’s approach to AI disclosures, emphasizing the impact on developer success and market competition, as reported by medianama.com.