Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticizes Valve's Steam policies

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has launched a public critique of Valve, accusing the company of hindering the gaming industry through its Steam platform. Sweeney specifically targeted Steam's requirement for developers to disclose the use of generative artificial intelligence in game content, such as illustrations, voiceovers, and text. He characterized these transparency mandates as “purely political” maneuvers that could incite online boycotts against creators.

Furthermore, Sweeney criticized the Steamworks ecosystem, describing it as a “social walled garden” that locks developers into a closed environment. He argued that this architecture prevents cross-platform communication between players on different devices and stores. This criticism follows discussions regarding Valve's 30% revenue cut, with Sweeney and other industry figures suggesting that the current distribution model limits financial success for developers and stifles technical innovation.