Steam Next Fest Players And Devs Navigate Flood Of GenAI Junk
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Steam’s Next Fest, a tri-yearly event showcasing hundreds of new game demos, is facing criticism from the community due to an increasing number of low-quality games and titles using generative AI assets.
- Many users on Reddit report frustration with the event, choosing to sort games by popularity to avoid sifting through what they consider “slop,” which undermines the event’s goal of promoting lesser-known indie developers.
- The problem is worsened by developers not properly disclosing the use of AI-generated assets, despite Steam’s requirement for transparency, as there are currently no penalties for nondisclosure.
- Community members suggest sorting by popularity and reviews as a workaround, though this approach contradicts the event’s purpose of giving free exposure
