Report: Nearly 8,000 Games on Steam Disclose GenAI Use
A recent investigation reveals that close to 8,000 games on Steam have openly communicated their integration of Generative AI (GenAI) technology. This substantial figure was obtained using Steam’s API, providing insight into the prevalence of AI technology across gaming titles on the platform.
As of July 13, a total of 7,818 games on Steam had declared their use of GenAI. This marks a significant rise since April 2024, when a similar analysis found around 1,000 games revealing GenAI involvement. Currently, this accounts for about 7% of the entire Steam library and nearly 20% of all game releases for the current year.
The reports explain that GenAI applications in gaming extend widely. They cover the generation of visual assets, audio, text, and narratives, among other elements. Beyond game design, GenAI also finds applications in marketing, promotional activities, and even within the internal coding and logical frameworks of the games.
An increasing number of games are employing GenAI technology in their gameplay mechanics. For instance, in the game Nyric, players engage with the AI by using text inputs to generate biomes dynamically from a pre-arranged cache of assets during gameplay. Similarly, AI Roguelite utilizes GenAI for dynamically generating in-game content such as text, images, and sound effects, and even for making real-time decisions affecting game mechanics.
Krafton’s inZOI, launched on March 27, exemplifies the market penetration of GenAI, selling 1 million copies in its first week. Detailed AI content generation disclosures on its Steam page indicate options for generating unique character textures and various items via text input, along with creating 3D objects and distinct character movements from image and video inputs. The game’s AI-driven actions and character thought processes are handled via “sLM technology,” enhancing player engagement and interaction.
Other popular titles like My Summer Car and Liar’s Bar have also amassed a significant number of reviews. My Summer Car employs AI-generated paintings for the decoration of its central location, while Liar’s Bar utilizes GenAI for creating character voices, demonstrating diverse applications of the technology.
The widespread, both acknowledged and unacknowledged, use of GenAI in gaming continues to entice industry attention. Late June marked a notable apology from 11 Bit Studios for the lack of transparency regarding AI use in The Alters. Furthermore, there are increasing concerns surrounding workplace ethics as reports emerge of corporations replacing staff with AI tools, as seen with the alleged redeployment of employees at King, the acclaimed Candy Crush developer.
The integration of GenAI into gaming, alongside its impacts on creative processes and workforce dynamics, remains a critical topic of discussion in the gaming community. As technology evolves, the role of AI in enhancing or replacing traditional game development methodologies continues to be at the forefront of industry progress and contemplation.
