Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently criticized Steam again, accusing its AI usage disclosure policy of being politically motivated and describing Steamworks as a social "walled garden" that restricts cross-platform interaction. Chet Faliszek, a former Valve developer who worked on Portal, Half-Life, and Left 4 Dead, subsequently released a video refuting these claims point by point.
Faliszek believes that Sweeney's hypothetical question—"should developers also be required to disclose their political stances?"—is not a realistic demand and cannot be used to dismiss the need for AI disclosure. Players simply want more information before purchasing games, which does not mean they lack the ability to make their own judgments.
He also mentioned that Fab, Epic's digital asset marketplace, similarly requires disclosure of AI usage. Sweeney previously stated that even if Steam removes this requirement, Fab may still retain it for business reasons, leading Faliszek to view his public stance as contradictory.
Regarding the criticism that Valve is hindering industry development, Faliszek acknowledged that Epic offers excellent tools and backend solutions. However, he argued that Valve's choice to leave room for third-party tools and community solutions does not equate to stifling development.
Faliszek concluded by citing Alan Wake 2's absence from Steam, challenging Sweeney to bring the game to Steam if he truly emphasizes consumer interests. This exchange centered on platform policies, AI transparency, and store exclusivity, with neither Valve nor Epic announcing new policies as a result.