Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, shared his views on the necessity of game developers disclosing their use of generative AI during the development process, calling the requirement “illogical.” He expressed his thoughts in response to a post on X by Matt Workman, a former Unreal Engine developer who incorporates generative AI in his motion capture projects. Workman argued that digital marketplaces like Steam should eliminate the “Made with AI” label, asserting that it has lost its significance.

Sweeney agreed with Workman, stating that while an “AI tag” may have its place in art exhibits for proper authorship recognition and in digital content licensing to clarify usage rights, it does not apply to gaming platforms. He pointed out that AI is expected to be an integral part of nearly all future game productions.

Later, Sweeney humorously suggested that if AI usage required disclosure, then developers might also need to reveal trivial personal preferences, such as their choice of shampoo, implying that such requirements could become absurd.

The “made with AI” label mentioned by Sweeney and Workman refers to a policy on Steam requiring developers to declare any AI involvement in their games. For instance, the Steam page of the game Arc Raiders states that AI and procedural tools may have supported content creation, while emphasizing that the final output is a result of their team’s creativity. This kind of disclosure is not present on Arc Raiders’ listing on the Epic Games Store.

Sweeney’s remarks have sparked discussions within the gaming community. Indie developer Mike Bithell expressed his disappointment on Bluesky, suggesting that it is unfortunate to assume that all developers rely on AI tools to create their work.

Sweeney’s assertion that AI will play a crucial role in future productions indicates Epic Games may be planning to integrate this technology throughout its vast operations, which include the popular titles Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, as well as the Epic Games Store.

The use of generative AI in game development stirs considerable debate as studios navigate the potential of this technology while addressing job security concerns for their workforce. The South Korean company Krafton, known for games like PUBG, has faced criticism after announcing it is pursuing an “AI-first” strategy and offering voluntary layoffs for employees who oppose this direction.

Brendan Greene, the creator of PUBG, has publicly distanced himself from Krafton’s approach, expressing support for the community’s resistance to AI in gaming. In contrast, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who directed The Witcher 3 and co-directed Cyberpunk 2077, has stated that while AI-created games lack emotional depth, there are beneficial applications of AI in the development process.