Artificial Intelligence
Ongoing coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Latest coverage
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.
As EA kills Mass Effect 5, BioWare co-founder slams "weird belief" you can "recreate great games with random people and AI" – "It doesn't work"
Following the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and layoffs at BioWare, co-founder Greg Zeschuk criticized the industry's reliance on executives who lack game development experience and a "weird belief" in recreating games with AI. The article highlights concerns about morale at Electronic Arts amid ongoing layoffs and the publisher's embrace of AI tools.
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.
Games Inbox: What is the best game of 2026 that’s not GTA 6?
This collection of reader letters discusses potential Game of the Year contenders for 2026, the possibility of Grand Theft Auto 6 having a troubled launch, and concerns about AI's impact on game development. Readers also debate Resident Evil's narrative consistency and the underutilization of Jill Valentine, while expressing a desire for improved Zelda remakes.
Microsoft (MSFT) Q1 FY27 earnings results beat revenue and EPS expectations
Microsoft reported its Q1 FY27 earnings, exceeding Wall Street's revenue expectations with $92.3 billion and beating EPS estimates with $4.92 per share. The company's strong performance was noted despite ongoing restructuring efforts, including voluntary buyouts for employees. Microsoft's continued investment in AI, particularly with products like Copilot, was highlighted as a key growth area.
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.
Roblox confirms no adult content used in AI training after scraping Open3DLab data
Roblox Corporation has confirmed that an AI agent mistakenly scraped 145.5 GB of 3D assets, including adult content, from Open3DLab's subsidiary sites. The company has decommissioned the agent and stated the data will not be used for AI training. This incident raises concerns about content moderation and the potential for adult material to be included in AI-generated assets offered to Roblox's young user base.
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.
"Taking several years with several thousand people… It's almost impossible" – PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi on the current state of gaming
PlayStation's 'father,' Ken Kutaragi, expressed concerns about the current state of the gaming industry, citing the excessive cost and time required for modern game development as 'meaningless.' He believes platforms have become prohibitively expensive and suggests the future of entertainment may lie beyond traditional video games, potentially merging with AI and robotics.
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.
EA morale hits a new low amid AI push and BioWare closure: "A cold dead place that's slowly decaying as leadership pilfers every last cent"
Morale at Electronic Arts is reportedly at an all-time low following recent layoffs and the closure of BioWare's studio. Employees describe the layoff process as impersonal and disruptive, with management pushing generative AI tools despite employee concerns. The publisher's acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has also led to significant cost-cutting measures.
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.
Masahiro Sakurai Shrugs Off AI Games as ‘Unprofitable Titles’ as Clones and Mods Boom
Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai believes that AI-generated games are unlikely to be profitable, comparing them to low-quality goods. He suggests that human-made titles like Shadow of the Colossus offer a superior experience that AI cannot replicate, despite the current boom in AI-created clones and mods.
Fable director known for overpromising promises it’s almost impossible to code without AI nowadays
The article discusses the reputation of Fable's director, Peter Molyneux, for making ambitious promises that are difficult to fulfill, especially in the current development landscape where AI is becoming increasingly integral. It draws a parallel to past Molyneux projects, suggesting a pattern of overpromising.
Discord know they replaced forums, so they're making your messages in discoverable servers searchable, which immediately raises one question: what about AI?
Discord is making messages in discoverable servers searchable on Google, a move intended to replace traditional online forums. This change raises significant concerns about AI training data and user privacy, as messages will now be publicly accessible. While users can opt out of having their messages included, the broader implications for data harvesting are a major point of contention.
Former Halo boss is now in charge of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games
Dan Ayoub, formerly of 343 Industries, has been promoted to lead Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games. He will oversee major projects like Exodus and Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons, as well as established franchises such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. The appointment comes at a challenging time for Hasbro, which has faced game cancellations and is navigating the evolving landscape of AI in gaming.
Epic is updating its EULA to allow AI training on outputs from Unreal Engine and MetaHuman
Epic Games is updating its End-User License Agreement (EULA) to remove restrictions on training artificial intelligence using outputs from Unreal Engine and MetaHuman. CEO Tim Sweeney announced the planned change on X, stating that while Epic is removing this restriction, individual game developers will still have the discretion to allow or disallow AI training for their specific titles.
Nvidia (NVDA) & AMD to invest combined $4 billion into Facebook (META)
Nvidia and AMD are investing a combined $4 billion into Meta to support its AI infrastructure, with Nvidia contributing $3 billion. This investment is part of Meta's larger goal to raise $95 billion for its AI technologies, particularly its Muse AI models, which rely on hardware from both companies. The partnerships aim to optimize computing infrastructure and foster future tech collaborations.
