Valve Clarifies Its Stance On Blocking Games With AI-Generated Content And Assets

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As the use of various AI generators becomes commonplace, Valve has addressed concerns surrounding potential copyright issues related to their use, particularly in Steam-approved games.

The company recently started to discreetly remove Steam games with AI-generated content but clarified that their goal is not to discourage the use of AI tools but to ensure developers have sufficient rights to use AI-generated assets in their games.

The company said that it’s open to the evolution of AI technology and recognizes its potential in the gaming industry. However, the challenge lies in demonstrating the legal rights associated with using the AI-generated assets such as images, texts, and music.

“We are continuing to learn about AI, the ways it can be used in game development, and how to factor it in to our process for reviewing games submitted for distribution on Steam,” Valve explained. “While developers can use these AI technologies in their work with appropriate commercial licenses, they cannot infringe on existing copyrights.”

For the time being, Valve says that it’s bound by copyright law but will be updating their review process accordingly. “Stated plainly, our review process is a reflection of current copyright law and policies, not an added layer of our opinion,” the company maintained. “As these laws and policies evolve over time, so will our process.”