What was reported
Coverage of this story continues to develop across the region, and the account below restates what was reported by the original publication without adding anything that was not already there.
Facebook X Reddit Flipboard Email 0 us The rise AI slop is real problem for Developers are growing sharing their concepts demos for fear them cloned, while Next events meant to upcoming games are choked literally thousands demos hastily out 'developers' who are everything imaginable at the in hopes that will stick. Speaking at the Indie Connect event in South Korea, Valve's Giardino Marc Wilkinson the problem, which as Inven Global included at one instance developer extortion threats: "If don't pay, we'll your game with AI it first." But the suggested that Valve isn't in position to do much it, at as far as regulating is isn't allowed on the platform. don't want to be gatekeepers developers which tools they should shouldn't use," Giardino said. that games were cloned long AI came on the scene—just at much slower suggested that developers can protect their work building strong community it, then focusing on continual "Rather than relying on mechanic that someone can easily need to keep growing your game adding personality, creativity that stem your own perspective." Latest FromPC Gamer Watch video here: Valve's approach to the AI games flooding the Next is similar. Wilkinson said that the two days the event, are shown games virtually randomly—but that, the platform starts personalized recommendations, showing games more likely to enjoy. The that early randomization, he is to give every developer fair at visibility, drilling down actual preferences. recognize that the is some low-quality games get Wilkinson said. are fully aware the situation, number people are thinking to solve this problem." It is SteamDB chart game releases very clearly illustrates (Image credit: SteamDB) 23,000 games have been on in 2026 alone, it's even November yet. them are garbo, irrespective the role AI in their development, but it's still an mass videogames that developers alike have to with. It may be an issue for studios releasing big games, but for the person plugging on might potentially be the next Animal Balatro, Vampire Survivors, the swept in flood low-effort slop is inescapable. The biggest gaming reviews hardware deals Keep to date with the important stories the deals, as picked the PC Gamer Israel Mallén Digital Games, which cancelled planned Moonlighter on over worries that it would be cloned, suggested that storefronts like could combat unethical game cloning developers "more tools to vet who gets [to pre-release builds], like age, playtime review But while Valve is grappling with the problem, it doesn't sound like that sort are imminent: Giardino that "there's room for improvement" but said, "Rather than developer access, smarter more dynamic platform is the point our philosophy." dates: When's the next event?Epic free games: What's free now?Free PC games: The freebies can grab2026 games: This upcoming releasesFree games: No purchase TOPICS Andy Chalk US Lead Andy has been gaming on PCs the very as youngster with text adventures action games on cassette-based TRS80. he graduated to the glory days Sierra adventures Microprose sims, ran BBS, learned to build developed longstanding love immersive sims, shooters. He began videogame in 2007 for The Escapist managed to avoid getting until 2014, when he the storied ranks PC Gamer. He all aspects the industry, game announcements patch notes to disputes, Twitch beefs, Henry Cavill. Lots Henry Cavill.
Readers following the wider topic will recognise several familiar threads here, and further updates are expected as more becomes known. Nothing above should be read as speculation beyond what the reporting itself supports.