Overview
- This week Pocketpair communications head John Buckley said the studio does not use generative AI and argued that “gamers don't want it,” adding that the company’s in‑house artists prefer to create assets themselves.
- Valve's Steam now requires developers to disclose generative AI use on store pages, a rule that surfaced many listings and that GamesRadar reported showed roughly 1,700 of about 8,600 Steam Next Fest demos listing AI use.
- Several studios have issued apologies after undisclosed AI‑generated or placeholder assets appeared in released builds, including Pearl Abyss and developers previously named in reports such as Ubisoft and 11 Bit Studios.
- Platform tensions are growing as Epic Games opposes mandatory AI disclosures while Steam enforces transparency rules that keep AI use under public scrutiny.
- Industry watchers say the split over tools could create an authenticity market and drive regional divergence, with some Asian markets likely to experiment more with AI and Western developers leaning toward caution, which could affect hiring and how studios market games.