Around a fifth of Steam Next Fest demos have a generative AI disclosure

Editor's take

Roughly 20% of the game demos featured during Steam Next Fest included a disclosure about the use of generative AI in their development. This indicates a growing adoption of AI tools within indie game development, offering creators new avenues for asset generation and content creation. The widespread visibility of these demos provides a crucial testbed for player perception of AI-assisted game design, potentially shaping future development practices.

The significance lies in the early signal this provides regarding player sentiment. As generative AI tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion become more accessible, their integration into game development is inevitable. Steam Next Fest, with its large audience of engaged players, serves as an immediate barometer of how this nascent technology is received, moving beyond theoretical discussions to practical application and audience feedback.

Moving forward, the key metric to monitor is player engagement and feedback specifically tied to these AI-disclosed demos. Will players penalize or reward games that openly acknowledge AI use? Furthermore, observing whether this trend translates to full game releases, and if developers begin to leverage AI for more core gameplay elements rather than just asset generation, will be critical indicators of AI's long-term impact on the gaming industry.