Masahiro Sakurai recently discussed the proliferation of AI tools and the surge in new titles on digital storefronts. He expressed concern that the use of AI for rapid game development will lead to a continued increase in new releases and works lacking originality, making it harder for players to discover truly distinctive games.
Relevant data shows that the annual number of game releases on Steam has increased from 275 in 2010 to over 19,000 per year currently. Masahiro Sakurai's remarks reflect his personal judgment and do not indicate any new policy announced by Steam.
His concerns are not limited to AI-generated content. A large number of products that position themselves as "something-like" and clearly imitate popular titles may also worsen the discovery problem. After a certain type of game becomes popular, cheap clones quickly proliferate, making it harder for games with unique characteristics to stand out.
This issue also affects the Nintendo eShop, Xbox, and PlayStation stores, where more limited search functionality may further exacerbate filtering difficulties. Epic Games has also launched a launcher update dubbed "Vibecoded."