Steam sees surge in AI content use

Steam, a major platform for PC video games, saw over 19,000 games released in 2025, according to data from SteamDB. The number of games that claim to use generative AI has nearly doubled in a year, highlighting a growing trend in the industry.

AI use rises sharply in 2026

An analysis by Reddit user u/ploz in November 2026 found that nearly half of new Steam games released in October 2026 declared using AI-generated content, at 49.9%. This is a significant jump from October 2025, when only 26.4% of new releases included AI-generated material.

Valve updates AI reporting rules

In 2023, Valve, the company behind Steam, required developers to prove they had rights to AI training data before allowing AI-generated images in games. In 2024, only 1.7% of new games reported AI use, but this increased to 13.2% for the whole year. By 2025, the proportion had risen to 24%, and by October 2026, it reached 40.1%.

Valve clarifies what needs to be reported

In January 2026, Valve updated its guidelines to specify that only AI-generated content directly visible to players—such as images, sounds, and text—needs to be reported. Developers no longer have to report the use of AI tools for tasks like coding or design assistance.

Most AI content is visual

According to the analysis, images are the most commonly reported type of AI-generated content, cited in 63% of developers' declarations. Text and translations follow at 30%, while store pages and promotional material are mentioned in 26% of cases. Multiple uses of AI in a single game can lead to totals exceeding 100%.

Smaller games and prolific developers use AI more

Games with fewer reviews on Steam are more likely to declare AI use. In 2026, 47% of games with fewer than ten reviews used AI, compared to 14% of more popular titles. Developers who release many games also tend to use AI more frequently, with 68% of their titles declaring AI use, compared to 37% for those who release only one game.

AI use may be underreported

The percentages mentioned are based only on what developers declare. Games that use AI but do not report it are not included in the analysis, meaning the actual use of AI in Steam games could be higher than the reported figures.