Steam Store Feature Would Have Huge Value, Valve Take Note
Whether we like it or not, AI is gradually making its way into the video game industry, even in ways we would least expect. Of course, some forms of AI have always existed in video game development, such as AI that gives our favourite NPCs some of their unique behaviour, but it is generative AI that is slowly becoming a problem.
If you are unfamiliar with generative AI, it is a type of artificial intelligence that can “generate high-quality text, images, and other content based on the data they were trained on”. With the arrival of ChatGPT being the turning point for GenAI, it is slowly beginning to make its way into everyday life.
However, with much of it being inaccurate and as a result, spreading misinformation, it is widely unaccepted.
Not only that but with significant environmental costs, data privacy concerns, and it being favoured over humans across some industries, generative AI can do more harm than good.
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In recent days, one Reddit user over on r/Steam put forward an interesting question alongside a mock-up of what this concept could look like.
“Should Steam add these in with the AI content disclosures?” They asked.
Back in January, Valve posted a blog post detailing its upcoming rules in regards to any games uploaded to Steam that featured any AI.
“First, we are updating the Content Survey that developers fill out when submitting to Steam,” it reads.
“The survey now includes a new AI disclosure section, where you'll need to describe how you are using AI in the development and execution of your game.”
The blog post goes on to list all of the uses of AI that need to be disclosed and now, if a game does include GenAI, it will be listed at the bottom of the store page.
However, should Steam also add AI content disclosures to its games?
Would This Disclosure Be Helpful?
In the example mock-up shared on r/Steam, Counter-Strike 2 can be seen with the following tags: In-Game Speculative Betting Economy and Degenerative LootBox Gambling.
Put simply, if a game features such features as micro-transactions, should it be declared on its store page?
As you can imagine, this question soon sparked a debate so let us take a look at some of the most popular comments.
“This wouldn't help, most people know that gambling/betting is bad, and yet, they keep doing it,” one comment read.
“Besides, CS is playable without buying the items, unlike other games.
“But yeah, it should be disclosed, always.”
Another agreed, adding, “I wouldn't be opposed to them saying that the game includes micro-transactions in the form of loot crates or the like.
It would help people know what they're getting into before they sink extensive amounts of time into something where it then feels like you need to pay later.”
However, with Epic boss Tim Sweeney recently stating that online stores such as Steam should stop labelling games as made with AI as it “makes no sense”, it remains to be seen what the future of AI disclosures will entail.