A new report reveals that a surprising 1 in 5 Steam games released in 2025 use Generative AI. Although this modern innovation is still relatively new, it seems that many developers have already found a variety of uses for Generative AI. Most of the notable Steam games found to have used this technology were developed independently and on a relatively small budget.
In January 2024, Valve began requiring developers to disclose the use of artificial intelligence during the creation of any video game. The statistics gathered since then reveal several interesting details, not only about the spread of AI use throughout the industry, but also how it has been used. While some developers have taken a stand against Generative AI, that hasn’t managed to prevent its use, especially with regard to independent game development.
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According to the latest report from Totally Human Media, approximately 7,818 games on Steam have disclosed Generative AI use, representing 7% of the available library. In addition to that revelation, this report also found that just under 20% of all games released on Steam in 2025 disclosed the use of Generative AI. Totally Human Media previously released a report on this subject in 2024, and at that time roughly 1,000 titles disclosed the use of this technology. In just one year, the number of games using AI has increased by almost 700%.
Disclosure of Generative AI Use Reveals How Technology is Used
Beyond simply providing details about the speed of AI adaption into video game development, the necessary disclosures on Steam reveal how developers are using the technology. It turns out that visual asset generation (2D/3D models, background images, textures, characters) makes up the majority of Generative AI use in Steam games, clocking in at around 60% of all disclosures made by developers. Other notable uses include audio generation, text generation, marketing materials, and even code generation.
My Summer Car is the most popular game to make a Generative AI disclosure, having sold an estimated 2.5 million units. In that case, the only confirmed use of this technology was in the generation of paintings found inside the main house. This example raises an excellent question about whether gamers are becoming more accepting of minor AI usage, because despite disclosure from the developers, the game remains very popular and well-reviewed. On the other end of the spectrum are games like InZOI, which feature an element of Generative AI within the game itself, allowing players to generate unique textures, outfits, and other items. Given that InZOI players reportedly want more character customization, it’s logical for developers to have a feature like this to address customer concerns. Whether it’s a relatively small addition such as the paintings in My Summer Car or a full in-game AI model, it seems some gamers are warming up to games that rely upon Generative AI during development.
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Valve
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September 12, 2003
- Original MSRP (USD)
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N/A
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N/A
Steam is a digital video game storefront and program developed by Valve that allows gamers to purchase, play, and mod their titles all through one convenient program.
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