Epic boss Sweeney again attacks Valve over AI disclosures on Steam
Tim Sweeney calls the requirement to disclose generative AI use on Steam “abhorrent”. Valve is sticking with the rule.
Archive image · Photo: Official GDC / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has again sharply criticised Valve’s requirement to disclose AI content on Steam. Replying to developer Matt Workman, who called an AI disclosure requirement “absurd” in 2026, Sweeney said according to GamesRadar+ that forcing developers to write a political statement to be used against them by the “hate mob” was “abhorrent”.
On Steam, studios that use generative AI must describe on their store page what it is used for. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, for instance, states that its team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets. Back in June, Sweeney compared the label to a “Scarlet Letter” and called it “irresponsible” because it makes success harder for developers. Valve has issued no new statement; its guidelines invite developers to get in touch with feedback.
The debate comes as Epic itself is pushing AI hard: it says it “vibe coded” its reworked launcher, and an Unreal Engine game jam that initially required AI use has made it optional again. Critics of AI in games point to legal, ethical, environmental and economic concerns.