A new report from Totally Human Media has uncovered a seismic shift on Steam: Steam games use Generative AI far more often than you’d expect.
As of July 13, 2025, around 7,818 titles have disclosed GenAI usage—which we think GenAI can help but is not the solution—nearly 7% of the entire library and almost 20% of this year’s releases—up from just over 1,000 in April 2024. That dramatic surge shows the tech isn’t just a curiosity—it’s becoming foundational.
Developers are increasingly leveraging AI for visuals, audio, dialogue, narrative, and even gameplay logic. In this new era, one standout example shines brightest: Nyric—a survivalcraft sandbox where your words literally shape your world in real time.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Let’s examine the situation better.
Spotlight: Nyric – Where Your Words Build Worlds
Developed by Lovelace Studio, Nyric is the poster child for how Steam games use Generative AI in creative gameplay. Picture this: you type “a storm-haunted wasteland” and the game constructs a 3D biome, complete with terrain, weather, hazards, and even AI companions called Faebots—with unique powers tied to their moods.
This isn’t just cut-and-paste game design. Nyric dynamically builds entire ecosystems on the fly, utilizing generative models to render environments, objects, creatures, and ambient conditions at runtime. You—and your prompts—are the co-creators.
Why So Many Steam Games Use Generative AI
That GenAI count jumped eightfold in just over a year. Here’s why developers are embracing it:
- Speed & Scale:AI enables fast iteration—assets, textures, props, even sound effects generated in seconds.
- Indie-Friendly:Smaller teams can punch above their weight, creating content-heavy experiences solo.
- Content Dynamism:Games like Nyric generate fresh experiences every playthrough, boosting replayability.
- Gameplay Innovation:Prompt-driven worlds expand the creative palette beyond fixed content.
With Steam games use Generative AI, the tech isn’t gimmicky—it’s unlocking new gameplay possibilities.
Other Notable Titles & Use Cases
While Nyric takes center stage, other newcomers and classics are also embracing GenAI in exciting ways:
- inZOI (by Krafton):Players generate textures, 3D assets, and animations through text or image prompts.
- AI Roguelite and Bitmagic:Use GenAI for in-game item generation, dialogues, and world-building dynamically.
- My Summer Car (updated version):Recently integrated AI-generated dialogue and scenario scripting to enhance immersion and replayability, giving the cult-favorite simulator a modern twist.
These examples illustrate that Steam games use Generative AI across a spectrum of genres—whether it’s for storytelling, environmental design, or quirky simulation scenarios.
Player Reactions—Love, Critique, or Confusion?
Such rapid AI integration hasn’t gone unnoticed by players:
- Mixed feelings:Some view GenAI games as lazy asset flips or low-effort cash grabs.
- Others champion AI features:Especially when it improves immersion, like procedurally generated worlds or believable NPC dialogue.
- Policy debates:Steam’s disclosure policy requires these tags, but some developers argue it unfairly exposes indies while big studios quietly slip by.
The Road Ahead: What’s Next for GenAI Games?
Now, as much as many of us would like for GenAI, or any form of AI for that matter, to not overtake the gaming industry, it seems like it’s just going to be mainly a pipe dream. And while it’s true that there are developers out there who are using AI solely to help make the process faster and not abuse its power, the sad reality is that a vast majority of them will eventually end up abusing it.
But we don’t have to lose hope just yet because the future doesn’t seem so bleak. Here are the next steps (hopefully for the better) that GenAI games might take:
- Adaptive storytelling:AI-generated quests and narratives that evolve mid-story.
- NPC authorship:Characters that respond realistically based on AI-generated personality and memory.
- Player-tailored content:Games like Nyric could evolve to interpret not just words, but emotional tone or gameplay style.
This is only phase one of GenAI integration—expect creativity barriers to vanish next.
Navigating the Future of AI in Gaming Knowing Steam Games Use Generative AI
The report makes it clear: Steam games use Generative AI more than ever before—and this isn’t just a passing trend. From dynamic sandbox titles like Nyric to quirky simulators like My Summer Car, developers are exploring what generative technology can offer. We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how games are created, designed, and even experienced.
But here’s the thing: while the innovation is exciting, we shouldn’t lose sight of balance. Generative AI is a powerful tool—one that can assist with tedious asset creation, inject dynamism into gameplay, and level the playing field for indie devs.
However, relying on AI too much may also flatten creative diversity. When too many developers turn to the same text-to-image or dialogue-generation models, games risk feeling homogenous, even if they’re technically different.
Ultimately, Steam games use Generative AI to unlock incredible possibilities—but the magic still lies in the human hands guiding it. As long as we treat AI as a partner—not a substitute—we can look forward to a future of games that are not only more innovative but also deeply human at their core.
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