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Valve Shoots Self in Foot Over AI Stance as Epic Doubles Down
Valve and Epic Games have contrasting approaches to artificial intelligence in game development. Valve maintains a hands-off policy for Steam, focusing on discovery rather than policing AI tools, while Epic Games is actively integrating AI into Unreal Engine development and its own production processes, viewing it as a tool to accelerate development and improve efficiency.
More Chinese success as Phantom Blade Zero enjoys a big launch and becomes one of Steam's most played games
Phantom Blade Zero has achieved significant success following its release, reaching over 431,000 concurrent players on Steam and topping the global best-sellers chart. Early reviews are mostly positive, with estimates suggesting over 1 million copies sold across PC and PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Epic Games is doubling down on its use of controversial AI tools for game development, including Fortnite and Unreal Engine 6, despite developer and community concerns.
Roblox users have wholesale ripped off games like Counter-Strike, Superhot, and Simpsons Hit and Run
A report highlights how users on the Roblox platform are allegedly using AI tools to create experiences that wholesale copy popular games like Counter-Strike, Superhot, and The Simpsons Hit and Run. Some of these experiences recreate entire games, including licensed titles, leading to accusations of plagiarism and potential legal issues for Roblox.
Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney claims 'Valve has held gaming back for years'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has stated that Valve's Steam platform has hindered the gaming industry for years by enforcing its Steamworks framework. He argues that Valve's 30% revenue cut is excessive and that developers should have more freedom to distribute their games across different platforms and storefronts.
Epic Games further doubles down on gen-AI tools for Fortnite, Unreal Engine 6 and more: "Our engineers are no longer writing the bulk of the code"
Epic Games is significantly increasing its use of generative AI across its products, including Fortnite and Unreal Engine 6. Executive vice president Marcus Wassmer stated that engineers are now guiding AI tools rather than writing the bulk of the code, aiming for faster development and fewer bugs. The company is unconcerned about skepticism surrounding AI, prioritizing speed over caution.
Valve says devs can fight AI clones on Steam by not "relying on a single mechanic that someone can easily copy," and report extortion to law enforcement while you're at it
Valve has advised game developers on Steam to prioritize originality and add unique features to combat AI-generated game clones. In response to reports of extortion attempts where AI users threaten to clone games if not paid, Valve business team members suggested developers report such threats to law enforcement in extreme cases, while also noting that Valve will investigate further.
Valve admits Steam has an AI slop and cloning problem, but says 'we don't want to be gatekeepers telling developers which tools they should or shouldn't use'
Valve has acknowledged a significant problem with AI-generated 'slop' and game cloning on Steam, which is impacting developers and choking events like Steam Next Fest. While aware of the issue, including reports of extortion threats, Valve stated they do not want to act as gatekeepers dictating which tools developers can use. Instead, they suggest developers focus on building strong communities and continually adding unique features to their games to stand out.
Backrooms director Kane Parsons is currently working on '3 dream projects' while wearing a Valve…
Director Kane Parsons, known for The Backrooms film, revealed in an interview that he is working on three new dream projects. While one is rumored to be a sequel to The Backrooms, another potential project involves Valve, with Parsons expressing admiration for their experimental approach and the influence of the Portal games on his work.
Valve says it’s ‘aware’ of Steam Next Fest’s prevalence of AI slop and ‘thinking about how to solve this problem’
Valve has acknowledged concerns regarding the prevalence of AI-generated content, referred to as 'AI slop,' at Steam Next Fest. The company stated it is aware of the issue and is actively considering solutions to address the problem.
Valve weighs in on Next Fest AI cloning phenomenon
Valve has addressed the growing concern of AI cloning in game development, advising developers to create less replicable games and foster communities that reject clones. While Valve acknowledges the issue, they are hesitant to act as gatekeepers, suggesting that developers should rely on legal recourse and community trust to combat AI-generated copies. This stance comes as studios like Digital Sun Games delay playtests due to fears of their games being cloned.
Backrooms Director Wears A Valve Hoodie To Interview And People Think He’s Teasing A Portal Movie
Director Kane Parsons, known for his acclaimed film Backrooms, has fueled speculation about a potential Portal movie by wearing a Valve hoodie during an interview. Parsons also made comments that fans interpret as references to Portal's gameplay mechanics. While a Portal movie has been in development hell for years, Parsons's strong connection to Valve and the Portal series has reignited interest.
Valve Knows Steam Next Fest Has An AI Slop Problem, And It’s Looking For Solutions
Valve is aware of the issue of low-quality, AI-generated game demos surfacing during Steam Next Fest and is exploring solutions. The company acknowledges that the randomized game selection at the start of the event, designed to give all developers equal exposure, leads to some "AI slop" being presented to users. While Valve is actively considering fixes, their current temporary solution is to wait a few days into the event for personalized recommendations to kick in.
Valve acknowledges Steam's AI problem as Next Fest exposes thousands of "low-quality games," but says it doesn't want to tell devs "which tools they should or shouldn't use"
Valve acknowledges a significant issue with AI-generated games flooding Steam, particularly during Steam Next Fest, describing the storefront as "overwhelmed by slop." While aware of the problem, Valve stated they do not want to dictate which tools developers can use, instead encouraging creativity and unique features to stand out. The company is considering solutions but emphasizes a philosophy of making Steam a smarter, more dynamic platform rather than limiting developers.
Tim Sweeney argues Steam has held gaming back, but Valve's tools tell a different story
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney claims Valve's Steamworks locks developers into a closed ecosystem, hindering cross-platform communication. While Valve's documentation indicates their Steam Datagram Relay service can be used across platforms if a game also launches on Steam, Sweeney and former Epic employee Kiaran Ritchie argue developers should pay for individual services rather than a 30% revenue cut. The discussion highlights ongoing rivalry and debate over digital distribution models.
"Every piece is unified": Dark Messiah of Might and Magic returns with co-op, an Adventure mode, a level generator and New Game+ in the 64-bit Community Edition
The fan-made Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Community Edition mod is set to release in 2026 with significant upgrades, including a transition to a 64-bit Source engine for native Linux and Windows support. The mod, developed by wiltOS Technologies with blessings from Ubisoft and Valve, will feature co-op multiplayer via Steamworks, a renewed PvP component, and integrate popular mods like New Game+ and an Adventure Mode.
Roblox users have made playable version of Counter-Strike and full, working versions PlayStation games that you can play right now
Roblox users have created functional recreations of popular games like Counter-Strike, The Simpsons: Hit and Run, and Superhot, as well as a working PlayStation 4 dashboard. These experiences, built without the original creators' involvement, range from passion projects to direct copies, raising questions about intellectual property and user-generated content within the platform.
Steam Next Fest Was Flooded With Slop. These 50 Demos Cut Through The Noise
The October Steam Next Fest was criticized for being overwhelmed by a large volume of low-quality game demos, making it difficult to find notable titles. Despite the challenges, a list of 50 standout demos was compiled, highlighting trends like social multiplayer games and niche simulation titles. Valve has not addressed the issues, and the number of demos is expected to increase in future events.
"Valve has held gaming back for years," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney proclaims in his latest jab against Steam
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has again criticized Valve and its Steam platform, claiming that Steamworks has hindered the gaming industry for years by creating a 'social walled garden.' Sweeney argues that this system prevents cross-platform communication and limits player interaction. The article notes that Valve's Steam Datagram Relay does offer cross-platform capabilities for games launched on Steam, and points out Valve's contributions to Linux gaming via the Steam Deck and Proton.
Half-Life: Alyx patch adds foveated rendering support a mere 6 years after the game's release
Valve has released a new patch for Half-Life: Alyx on PC, adding support for foveated rendering. This feature, which renders the center of the image at higher quality and the periphery at lower quality, can improve rendering performance, especially when combined with eye-tracking hardware. The update also includes support for the Steam Deck's Snapdragon processor.
Steam Frame kernel updated with external CD-ROM drive compatibility just one day after a user asked Valve for it
Valve has updated the Steam Deck's Linux kernel to include support for external CD-ROM drives, a feature requested by a user who wanted to play older games like Need For Speed Carbon. The change was implemented rapidly after the user's community post, demonstrating a quick response from a Valve employee.
