Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has once again criticized Steam's policy requiring developers to disclose AI-generated content in their games. He argues that singling out AI as a development method that must be labeled unfairly subjects associated teams to negative scrutiny due to their technological choices.
Sweeney stated that games can be good or bad regardless of whether they use AI. He claimed that this disclosure mechanism is being used by anti-AI advocates to damage developers' reputations and jeopardize project viability, describing the mechanism as toxic.
Regarding large-scale game development, Sweeney holds a strongly optimistic view on the role of AI. He believes that, aside from niche indie teams with specialized focuses, major developers who fail to adopt AI may be outpaced by more efficient competitors, ultimately losing economic competitiveness. He also envisions that teams could potentially boost efficiency by four to ten times using AI in the future, and opposes U.S. legislation restricting AI use in game development, arguing it could give other countries an advantage.
The application of AI in the gaming industry remains highly controversial, with backlash from players, voice actors, artists, and indie developers. A GDC report shows that 55% of respondents believe AI is having a negative impact on the industry. Former Valve developer Chet Faliszek also refuted Sweeney's views, arguing that players have the right to know how games are made.