Are AI-Powered Games Taking Over Steam? How 20% of New Releases Now Use Artificial Intelligence

Why Did Steam Games With AI Content Explode by Nearly 700% in Just One Year?

The gaming world has changed. Fast. Something big happened while most people weren’t looking. Games made with artificial intelligence tools are everywhere now on Steam.

Think about this. Last year, only about 1,000 games on Steam used AI tools. Today? That number jumped to almost 8,000 games. That’s a massive 700% increase in just twelve months.

But here’s what’s really surprising. One out of every five new games released in 2025 uses AI in some way. This means if you download five new games today, at least one probably has AI-generated content inside it.

What Exactly Are These AI Tools Doing in Games?

Game makers aren’t just playing around with AI. They’re using it for real work. Here’s how:

Visual Content Takes the Lead

Most games use AI for pictures and art. About 60% of AI games create visual stuff like:

• Character designs
• Background landscapes
• Game environments
• Menu designs
• Concept art

Other Uses Are Growing Too

The remaining 40% of games use AI for different things:

• Sound creation – Making music and voice effects
• Story writing – Creating dialogue between characters
• Code generation – Writing parts of the game program
• Marketing materials – Making trailers and promotional content
• Content moderation – Checking for inappropriate player content

Some games even create new content while you play. The AI watches how you play and makes new challenges just for you. It’s like having a game that grows and changes based on what you do.

Steam Had to Make New Rules

Valve, the company that runs Steam, saw this trend coming. In January 2024, they started requiring developers to tell players when they use AI tools.

Now every game page shows an “AI-Generated Content Disclosure” section. Developers must explain exactly how they used AI in their game. For example, a popular game called My Summer Car tells players that AI made some paintings you see inside a house.

But here’s a problem. Steam doesn’t let you search for games without AI content. If you want to avoid AI games, you need to use outside websites like SteamDB. SteamDB added a special filter that shows you which games use AI and lets you skip them if you want.

The Numbers Tell a Fascinating Story

Let’s break down what’s really happening:

• 7,818 games on Steam now admit to using AI
• This represents 7% of Steam’s entire game library
• Nearly 20% of all new 2025 releases use AI tools
• The growth rate is almost 700% year-over-year

These numbers might actually be too low. Since telling Steam about AI use is voluntary, many developers probably use AI but don’t report it.

Why Are Developers Choosing AI?

The answer is simple: money and time.

Small game studios can’t afford to hire big art teams. AI tools let one person do the work of many. Instead of paying thousands of dollars for custom artwork, a developer can generate images for almost nothing.

But it’s not just about saving money. AI tools work fast. Really fast. What used to take weeks now happens in hours. This means small teams can compete with big companies that have hundreds of employees.

Players Are Fighting Back

Not everyone is happy about this change. Many Steam users are angry about AI content. On Reddit and other forums, players say they’ll ignore any game that uses AI.

Some quotes from players show how they feel:

• “We need to tag them so they can be an ignored category”
• “What am I paying for if it’s all AI?”
• Players are losing interest in games once they discover AI was used

During Steam’s Next Fest, which shows upcoming games, many players said they stopped wanting games after learning about AI use.

The Bright Side vs. The Dark Side

Good Things About AI in Games

• Faster development – Games get made quicker
• Lower costs – Small teams can afford better content
• More creativity – Developers can try new ideas easily
• Personalized experiences – Games that adapt to each player

Worrying Problems

• Job losses – Artists and writers might lose work
• Lower quality – Some AI content looks cheap or boring
• Ethical questions – Is it fair to replace human creativity?
• Too much content – Flooding Steam with low-effort games

What This Means for You

Whether you love or hate AI in games, this trend isn’t slowing down. The numbers prove it. More developers will use these tools because they work and save money.

If you’re a gamer, you’ll need to decide what matters to you. Do you care if a game uses AI? Or do you just want fun games, no matter how they’re made?

If you’re thinking about making games, learning AI tools might be smart. The developers using them now have a big advantage over those who don’t.

The gaming industry is changing fast. AI tools went from barely existing to powering 20% of new games in just one year. Next year, that number will probably be even higher.

The future of gaming is happening right now. And like it or not, artificial intelligence is driving it forward.