Indie gaming platform Itch.io has added a new feature that allows users to filter all games created using generative AI.
The new filter will remove any game with generative AI disclosure from search results. Itch requires games containing generative AI content to contain the disclosure, explaining exactly how the AI was used in the development of the game.
Steam (3,037 articles)” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/pc/steam/”>Steam has a similar mandate, but currently does not allow users to filter games that carry it. This proved particularly problematic during the recent Steam Next Fest, as many developers complained that their titles were being drowned in a sea of games created using AI.
“I just deleted a few terabytes of AI garbage,” reads a post on Itch’s Bluesky page. The site then goes on to explain that it was specifically AI spam that was targeted: “Just because you can download 10 terabytes of poorly optimized AI-generated models doesn’t mean you should download 10 terabytes of poorly optimized AI-generated models.”
Shortly after, Itch revealed the new feature that adds a “no AI” filter when searching for games.
This seems to have been fairly well received by the community, but some want Itch to go further and completely ban any games using generative AI assets. Right now, it appears the only AI creations banned are those posted en masse, spamming the site with “AI slop.”
Any outright ban on AI presents certain logistical problems. For example, a line would have to be drawn when a game is an “AI game”, as that could encompass everything from low-quality games coded entirely using AI to releases using generative AI during development.
For example, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, winner of Game of the Year (72 articles)” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/clair-obscur-expedition-33/”>Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, was found to contain AI-generated art assets at launch, which the developer claimed were there as a placeholder. These were removed in a patch, but it was enough for the game to get its award at the Indie Game Awards rescinded.
Regardless, the ongoing debate around generative AI in game development poses a significant problem for storefronts like Itch and Steam. The only major storefront that doesn’t seem too concerned is the Epic Games Store (1,624 items)” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/pc/epic-games-store/”>Epic Games Store, as Epic Games has even released a new launcher that it admits is “ambience-coded” by AI.
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