Counter-Strike 2 artist compares transparency requirements to food ingredient labels as Epic CEO criticizes mandatory disclosures
The gaming industry’s contentious relationship with artificial intelligence has sparked fresh controversy this week, centred on Steam’s requirement that developers disclose the use of AI in their products.
The latest discussion began when Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney questioned the value of AI disclosures currently mandated on Steam store pages. Sweeney argued that these labels are impractical, suggesting that widespread AI adoption will eventually render such transparency measures obsolete as the technology becomes standard across game development.
Steam’s current policy requires any title utilising generative AI during development to clearly indicate this on its store page. Several high-profile releases have already included such disclosures, including Arc Raiders, which utilised AI for robot movement animations and text-to-speech systems, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, where developers employed AI tools as part of their workflow.
Artist Pushes Back on Criticism
Ayi Sanchez, a Valve artist who contributed to the redesign of Counter-Strike 2’s Train map, has publicly defended the disclosure requirements. Responding to industry criticism on social media, Sanchez drew parallels between the transparency of game development and consumer product labelling.
Sanchez compared the situation to food ingredient lists, arguing consumers deserve information to make informed purchasing decisions. He suggested that developers opposing such transparency may be concerned that their work will be perceived as minimal effort.
The discussion expanded beyond simple disclosure requirements into broader ethical considerations. Sanchez emphasised that transparency extends beyond potential harm to encompass production ethics, citing examples like labour practices and material sourcing in other industries.
Technology Versus Artistry
In his closing remarks, Sanchez stated that creation should remain the domain of human creators rather than prompt engineers, expressing confidence that informed consumers would choose original work over AI-generated alternatives.
While Sanchez’s views represent his personal perspective rather than official Valve policy, his position as a company artist adds weight to the ongoing debate about AI’s role in creative industries.
The controversy highlights the tension between technological advancement and artistic integrity as game development continues evolving. With major titles increasingly incorporating AI tools, the question of transparency and consumer awareness remains at the forefront of industry discussions.
As more developers integrate artificial intelligence into their workflows, Steam’s disclosure policy may serve as a benchmark for how digital storefronts balance innovation with consumer transparency in the years ahead.
