Steam Next Fest 2026 has more than double the number of demos than last year, but how much of it is generative 'AI slop'?
Steam Next Fest 2026 starts today, offering PC players a chance to get their hands on a staggering number of playable demos.
Steam Next Fest 2026 starts today, offering PC players a chance to get their hands on a staggering number of playable demos.
The short version
- With the full count coming to more than double last year's event, concerns about generative AI 'slop', plagiarism, and discoverability are circulating.
- On the surface, this looks to be a great opportunity for people to discover a cool new game before the GTA 6 -dominated month of November hits.
- However, the everpresent shadow of generative AI continues to loom over the storefront.
What happened
Last June, roughly 17 percent of the Steam Fest demos disclosed the use of generative AI , a substantial figure that may be larger due to the possibility of undisclosed gen AI use. The popularity of this software has not waned in the past 12 months either; if anything it's become more prevalent.
Why it matters
The issue of generative AI in games on Steam has evolved somewhat, too.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Eurogamer via the links above and below.