Platform Policy
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Epic Games CEO calls Steam's AI disclosure policies "a political act"
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has strongly criticized Valve's AI disclosure policy for Steam, labeling it a "political act" and "abhorrent." Sweeney argues that such policies force developers into making political statements that can be used by online mobs to target games and deprive them of revenue. He believes these disclosures are partisan and akin to mandatory political essays, contrasting it with Epic Games' more open approach to AI usage.
YouTube Redefines the View on August 24th — and Your Counts Are About to Climb
YouTube is changing its view counting policy on August 24th, logging a view the moment playback begins rather than after 30 seconds. This change aims to provide metric parity across different video formats like Shorts and long-form content. While view counts are expected to increase, YouTube assures creators that this will not impact earnings or eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program.
Indie Game Refund Abuse Sparks Debate Over Platform Policies | HappyGamer
Players are reportedly abusing refund policies on platforms like Steam, playing indie games for over 20 hours before requesting refunds and leaving negative reviews. This practice is causing significant financial and algorithmic damage to small developers who rely on every sale. The debate centers on balancing consumer rights with the need to protect developers from intentional exploitation.
Steam Users Demand Answers as Two-Word Post Goes Viral
A two-word post on Reddit's Steam community, "Explain yourself," has gone viral, garnering nearly 20,000 interactions and uniting thousands of Steam users who feel something needs addressing. This organic moment highlights growing player awareness and scrutiny of gaming platforms' business decisions and policies, putting pressure on Valve to respond.
X is changing its revenue-sharing policy to deter users pretending to be Americans
X is updating its revenue-sharing policy to prioritize engagement from a user's home region, according to Head of Product Nikita Bier. This change aims to encourage content relevant to local audiences and discourage users from gaming the system by pretending to be in the US or Japan. The new policy, effective March 26, 2026, will no longer send money overseas for content focused on American politics.