Valve says it is working on Steam's AI slop problem

Valve has finally addressed Steam's AI problem in detail. The company says a significant number of staff are working on the flood of low-quality AI games and clones, but it will not stop developers from using generative AI tools.

Key facts

• Where: Steam Indie Connect in South Korea, 27 October
• Who: Tom Giardino and Marc Wilkinson of the Steam Business Team
• Main message: no restrictions on AI use
• Next Fest: random recommendations for 2 days, then personalised
• About 17% of last year's Next Fest demos disclosed generative AI use

What is Valve doing about Steam's AI problem?

The topic came up during a Q&A with Korean developers at Steam Indie Connect. As reported by Korean outlet Inven, developers complained that getting noticed on Steam keeps getting harder, partly because of how many AI-made games now hit the store.

Giardino was clear: "We don't want to be gatekeepers telling developers which tools they should or shouldn't use." In other words, Valve has no plans to keep games made with AI off the storefront.

He said Valve's aim is not to filter out bad games but to elevate good ones. "We don't think we're perfect and there's plenty of room for improvement," he added. "Rather than limiting developer access, making Steam a smarter and more dynamic platform is the starting point of our philosophy."

AI clones and extortion emails

Clones were another sore point. IGN notes that bad actors use generative AI to copy games from early footage and demos, then beat the originals to market. VGC reports that some developers have even received extortion emails threatening to release an AI clone first unless they pay.

Giardino said Valve would look into reported cases, but stressed that extortion is more a matter for law enforcement. Overall, Steam focuses less on removing copies and more on giving the original version weight and visibility. His advice: rather than relying on one easily copied mechanic, keep adding features, personality and creativity that come from your own perspective.

Why did Steam Next Fest feel full of AI slop?

One developer said they took part in the latest Next Fest but saw poor engagement, while social media was full of complaints about low-quality games. According to IGN, this year's event hosted more than 8,000 demos.

Wilkinson explained how Next Fest visibility works:

The random phase is deliberate, he said. It gives every developer a fair share of exposure and stops people from gaming the system by entering early. "We recognize that the trade-off is that some low-quality games get exposed," Wilkinson said. "We are fully aware of the situation, and a significant number of people are thinking about how to solve this problem."

An old debate in a new form

Giardino pointed out that these complaints are nothing new. When Steam Greenlight launched 14 years ago, developers asked to filter out Greenlight titles, and the same thing happened when the self-publishing Steam Direct system arrived. Each time, Valve chose to improve the store rather than filter games out.

AI on Steam was already a hot topic this week after Epic boss Tim Sweeney attacked Steam's generative AI disclosure, as covered in our story on Tim Sweeney's comments. For the demos that did break through, see our Steam Next Fest October 2026 most played list.

Nothing changes for players right away, since Valve did not announce a new filter or rule. But the admission that the problem is real suggests the recommendation system could change before the next Next Fest.

Frequently asked questions

Will Valve ban AI-made games from Steam?

No. Valve's Tom Giardino said the company does not want to be a gatekeeper telling developers which tools they should or should not use.

Why did Steam Next Fest feel full of low-quality games?

Valve says recommendations are completely random for the first two days of Next Fest before personalised recommendations kick in, and many complaints likely came from that window.

What does Valve advise developers worried about AI clones?

Keep growing the game with features, personality and creativity that come from your own perspective, rather than relying on a single mechanic that is easy to copy.

Sources

• VGC: Valve has 'a significant number' working on Steam's visibility dilemma
• IGN: Valve 'Thinking About How to Solve' Steam's AI Slop Problem