Steam AI games: Valve announces new rules for developers

Steam, the leading online gaming platform, is embracing games that use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create or modify content. Valve, the company behind Steam, has announced new rules for developers who want to publish games that use AI on Steam. The new rules aim to increase transparency and accountability around the use of AI in games while protecting customers from illegal or harmful content.

What are Steam AI games?

Steam AI games are games that use AI technology to create or modify content, such as graphics, sound, code, or gameplay. AI technology can help developers create new and innovative experiences for customers, but it can also pose some challenges and risks.

There are two main types of AI content in games:

• Pre-generated content: This is content that is created by AI before the game is released, using data sets or algorithms that train the AI to produce certain outputs. For example, an AI game could use pre-generated content to create realistic landscapes, characters, or dialogues.
• Live-generated content: This is content that is created by AI while the game is running, using inputs from the player or the environment. For example, an AI game could use live-generated content to create dynamic quests, enemies, or music.

Why did Valve change its rules?

Valve says that it changed its rules to address the challenges and opportunities of Steam AI games. According to Valve, Steam AI games have the potential to offer new and innovative experiences to customers, but they also pose some risks, such as:

• Legal issues: Steam AI games could generate content that is illegal or infringing on the rights of others, such as copyrighted material, hate speech, or pornography. This could expose Valve, developers, and customers to legal liabilities or penalties.
• Ethical issues: Steam AI games could generate content that is harmful or offensive to some customers, such as violence, gore, or nudity. This could affect the reputation of Valve, developers, and customers, or cause emotional distress or trauma.
• Quality issues: Steam AI games could generate content that is low-quality, buggy, or inconsistent with the game’s genre, theme, or style. This could affect the enjoyment and satisfaction of customers, or cause technical issues or errors.

How do the new rules work?

The new rules require developers to disclose and label their Steam AI games on Steam, and to take measures to prevent or remove illegal or harmful content. Specifically, developers must:

• Disclose if their game contains pre-generated content created with AI, and confirm that they have the rights to use it and that it is not illegal or infringing.
• Disclose if their game contains live-generated content created with AI, and describe the safety mechanisms they have implemented to prevent or filter out illegal or harmful content.
• Display a notice on their game’s store page that informs customers that the game uses AI technology and that some content may be generated by AI.
• Provide customers with options to report or flag any illegal or harmful content they encounter in the game, and to remove or disable it if possible.

Valve will assess and authorize AI games on Steam according to these guidelines. They will also oversee and ensure adherence to these rules. Valve plans to revise its rules as AI technology and legal regulations advance. Additionally, they will gain insights from the games submitted to Steam and the legal developments in the field of AI.

What does this mean for developers and customers?

The new rules mean that developers who want to publish Steam AI games on Steam will have to be more transparent and responsible about their use of AI technology and that they will have to ensure that their AI-generated content is legal and safe. Developers who fail to comply with the new rules could face rejection, removal, or legal action from Valve.

The new rules also mean that customers who want to buy or play Steam AI games on Steam will have more information and control over their choices and that they will have more protection from illegal or harmful content. Customers who encounter any illegal or harmful content in Steam AI games will be able to report or flag it, and to remove or disable it if possible.

The new rules are expected to enable Valve to release more Steam AI games on Steam while maintaining a high standard of quality and safety for its platform and its customers. Valve says that it is excited to see the new and innovative experiences that developers will create with AI technology, and that it will support them in their efforts.