Should game developers be forced to declare any usage of AI? Epic’s billionaire CEO Tim Sweeney is against it — “AI will be involved in nearly all future production”

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Steam and similar online game stores now ask developers to state if they’ve used AI to create content in their games. This information is shown as a notice on the game’s store page.

Fans appreciate being able to make smart decisions and steer clear of what’s being called “AI slop” – quickly produced, low-quality content designed for fast profits. As a result, many independent developers are highlighting that their work isn’t created with AI, hoping to gain trust and attract attention online.

Meanwhile, large game publishers and engine developers are increasingly using AI tools in their everyday work. For these companies, AI is rapidly becoming a normal part of the development process, not something extra or requiring special handling.

What Tim Sweeney argues and how the community has responded

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, responded to a user named @cinedatabase on X (formerly Twitter). The user had stated that digital stores like Steam shouldn’t require labels indicating if content was ‘Made with AI,’ as it’s no longer a significant distinction.

In his response, Sweeney said:

That’s right. Labeling AI-generated art is important for exhibits to clarify who created it, and for online marketplaces so buyers know what rights they have. However, it doesn’t really fit for game stores, since AI will likely be used in making most games going forward.

Tim Sweeney

There’s a growing consensus that artificial intelligence will be a core part of future software development tools. This leads to a debate about how much AI is *too* much, and for many, that concern centers on generative AI – especially AI that creates art.

A popular post from @EZE3D, receiving over seven thousand likes, highlighted the importance of being upfront and honest. The post stated:

A truly free market works by giving buyers the information they need to make informed decisions. When it comes to products created with AI, clear and prominent labeling is essential – and companies should face serious consequences for concealing that information. Ultimately, if consumers aren’t concerned, they’ll continue to purchase the product regardless.

How AI is currently being used in games

The popular new game, ARC Raiders, has faced some criticism regarding its use of artificial intelligence. Developers confirmed they used AI tools to help build the game, and voice actors agreed to have their voices used for AI purposes, receiving payment for it. The game utilizes machine learning to control how enemies act, and includes computer-generated speech created using recordings from real actors.

The studio explained that these tools were meant to help with game development, not take the place of artists and designers. This reassured some people, but discussions about voice actor training and who owns the rights to their work are still ongoing.

Both Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the recently released Black Ops 7 have included content created using artificial intelligence – specifically, AI-generated calling cards and store bundle art. As required, both games clearly state they use generative AI on their Steam pages.

AI tools are likely to remain a permanent part of the development process, even if the current excitement around AI fades. However, figuring out how much AI is *too* much is still a challenge.

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2025-11-27 18:10