The AI flood continues to seep into more of the gaming industry as Steam sees a wild number of AI-made games infiltrate October’s Steam Next Fest. Valve usually hosts several Steam Next Fest events a year, and while it has traditionally been a place for gamers to find and test out exciting new titles coming to Steam, the current event’s vibe has shifted drastically compared to the June showcase. This time, gamers have voiced frustrations with the amount of AI-made games present in the Steam Next Fest lineup.
Using AI in game development has been one of the hottest topics in the industry this year. With stories of Disney and Epic Games using AI to finish development on their mysterious new multiplayer shooter and Rockstar reassuring gamers that GTA 6 was made without the use of AI, the industry is seeing itself being divided into separate camps. This divide has also bled over into the larger gaming community. Some have taken a hard “no AI” stance, while others don’t seem to mind. The choice is ultimately up to the gamer, but the controversy that Steam Next Fest’s AI-heavy lineup has stirred up hopefully inspires Valve to take action.
AI-Made Games Aren’t Going to Stop, But Valve Can Still Find Solutions to Avoid Another Steam Next Fest Controversy
I’m in the camp that sees generative AI in game development as a deal-breaker, but I’m also a realist. If the technology is there, people are going to use it, so it’s pretty much impossible to stop the rise of AI-made games. The sheer number of AI game demos at this year’s Steam Next Fest is definitely frustrating, but it also isn’t all that surprising.
Whether it’s music, film, social media content creation, or gaming, AI has made its way into nearly every corner of society and pop culture. You don’t have to like it, but it’s more than likely here to stay. One of the biggest issues with the number of AI-made games in this month’s Steam Next Fest is that it has made sifting through games far more daunting. There are around twice as many games this time around compared to June, which makes browsing that much harder.
The AI Influx Hits Indie Devs the Hardest
Steam Next Fest might not be exclusive to indie games, but it’s definitely an event that a lot of indie devs look forward to and take advantage of. It’s a great way to get a smaller-scale project in front of a lot of people, and AI is simply getting in the way of that. Yes, technically, AI-made projects still count as indie games, but there is definitely a difference between a game that heavily utilizes AI and a project that a solo dev or small team have spent years crafting and pouring love into. New indie games on Steam are one of the platform’s biggest draws, which now leaves Valve at a crossroads. After this current Steam Next Fest, the company might have to make some tough decisions to ensure that this backlash doesn’t happen again.
It’s Not a Perfect Solution, But Valve Should Consider an AI-Only Version of Next Fest
This would still be a controversial route for Valve to take, but it’s a far more realistic choice than completely banning AI-made games. Valve’s stance on AI has been quite fair. The company still allows games that embrace generative AI on its platform, but developers must disclose the technology’s use on any official Steam page. It’s a solid middle ground that at least allows players to make an informed decision about whether they want to support the game or not.
The first Steam Next Fest of 2027 is set to go live in February, so it will be interesting to see if Valve takes any measures to address the generative AI controversy ahead of the next event.
AI-made games are simply making the October 2026 Steam Next Fest a lot less fun for many gamers who look forward to these events. Since Valve allows these kinds of games on Steam, it would be unfair to completely ban AI projects from such an event, so the next best thing would be for the company to host an AI-specific version of Steam Next Fest.
Plenty of Steam users have made their voices heard when it comes to being upset with how many AI games there are at this event. Beyond voicing an opinion, the only other thing that people in the anti-AI group can do is avoid playing the demos. An AI-only Next Fest would actually give gamers even more agency. Choosing not to participate would send a clear message about how many Steam users actually consider AI a deal-breaker when picking a game. Gamers who think AI should be kept out of game development can avoid the event, and those who are fine with it can have another event to look forward to. At the end of the day, what matters the most is allowing gamers to decide for themselves.
