Valve Clarifies How to Declare AI Use in Steam Games

Published on January 19, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Steam logo alongside artificial intelligence symbols on a background of digital textures, representing the new AI-generated content disclosure policy.

Valve Clarifies How to Declare AI Use in Steam Games

The Steam platform has updated its guidelines so that video game creators accurately report the use of artificial intelligence tools. This adjustment seeks to balance innovation with legal responsibility, providing a clearer framework for publishing games. 🤖

A New Mandatory Step for Developers

Now, every creator who wants to distribute their title on Steam must complete a specific section during the submission process. In it, they must explicitly declare if they used AI systems to generate any part of the game. Valve differentiates two main categories of use to better evaluate each project.

Types of AI Use That Must Be Declared:
  • Pregenerated AI: Includes assets like art, 3D models, textures, or sounds created with AI assistance before submitting the game to the platform.
  • Real-Time AI: Refers to systems that generate dynamic content, such as dialogues or scenarios, while the player is playing.
  • Rights Verification: The developer must ensure they have the rights to use all the data with which the AI tools were trained.
This framework allows Valve to manage the risks associated with this technology while permitting its creative use.

How Steam Reviews and Enforces the Rules

Once the developer submits their declaration, the Valve team reviews the game to check that it complies with all their policies. This process is key to maintaining the store's integrity and protecting users.

Key Elements of the Review Process:
  • Legality Analysis: It is verified that the game does not contain illegal material or infringe third-party copyrights.
  • Reporting System: A tool is implemented so that players can report AI-generated content within the game that they consider inappropriate.
  • Transparency: The ultimate goal is to offer clarity about the origin of the content, although the policy does not judge the ethics of digital creations.

The Impact on the Creative Community

This update responds to the need to adapt the rules to new technologies. By requiring the declaration of AI use, Valve does not intend to hinder innovation, but to establish an environment where these tools can be used responsibly and in compliance with the law. The philosophical debate about artificial creation remains, but the rules for publishing on Steam are now more concrete. 🎮