Valve have now confirmed their rules for game developers using AI generated content on Steam, and while they’re not banning AI they are going to ensure it’s clearly stated for players. Like it or not, “AI” use is only going to increase in the games industry and so Valve had to do something and what they’ve announced sounds reasonable enough.
When developers fill out a survey for Valve to get their game on Steam, it now includes AI disclosures developers have to fill out and they separate it into two 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 said they 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”. So with that, if you plan to avoid AI games, at least Valve will give you a clear way to spot them.
On top of that Valve said they’re implementing a new system to allow players to “report illegal content inside games that contain Live-Generated AI content”, which you’ll do via the Steam Overlay.
Together these rules and features allow Valve to be “much more open to releasing games using AI technology on Steam” but Valve said clearly that Adult Only Sexual Content created with Live-Generated AI is not currently allowed on Steam. That one feels like an obvious one to not allow, for reasons I’m sure I don’t need to go into.
What do you think to Valve’s stance on this?
See the full announcement here.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
