Indie Game Hub Itch.io Clears Out AI-Generated Content, Adds New Filters

In a move to streamline its vast collection of indie games, Itch.io has deleted a couple of terabytes of AI-generated content, reported to be around two terabytes in total. This decision comes as part of the platform's ongoing efforts to manage the influx of game pages created daily, which have risen from 3,000 to 6,000 over the past two months.

The increase in game uploads has not been matched by a corresponding rise in downloads or purchases, suggesting that the sheer volume of new content may be overwhelming for users. To address this, Itch.io has implemented a 'No AI' filter on its search results page, allowing users to easily exclude games that were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

While Itch.io does not outright ban AI-generated content, it requires creators to clearly disclose the use of AI and ensure that their work adds substantial value to the user experience. This means that bulk uploads of similar AI-generated games, often seen as spam, do not meet the platform’s standards. In contrast, Steam, another major player in the indie game scene, has taken a more relaxed approach to AI-generated content, described as 'very hands-off.'

Valve, the company behind Steam, has not responded strongly to concerns about AI-generated content on its platform, unlike Itch.io. Additionally, first-time uploaders have been the primary drivers of the increase in game uploads, contributing to the surge in content creation.

Itch.io’s new policies also extend to requiring AI disclosures for specific categories of content, further refining its approach to managing the diverse array of games available on the platform. These changes reflect a broader trend in the gaming industry towards clearer definitions and guidelines for AI-generated content, ensuring that both creators and users can navigate the digital landscape with ease.

What We Know

• Itch.io removed 'a couple terabytes of AI slop'. ¹²³
• The number of game pages created per day on Itch.io increased from 3,000 to 6,000 over the last two months. ¹³
• Itch.io will add filters for generative AI disclosure on more sections of the site, including the search results page. ¹³
• Itch added a 'No AI' filter to its search results to allow users to exclude games with AI disclosures. ²³
• Bulk uploads of AI-generated games will lead to de-indexing by Itch.io. ¹
• Itch.io does not ban AI-generated content outright, but requires clear statement of AI use and substantial value addition to user experience. ¹
• Steam's approach to AI-generated content is described as 'very hands-off' compared to Itch.io's actions. ¹
• Itch removed thousands of AI games and other marketplace items due to spam. ²
• Itch's terms and conditions permit AI-generated content if it is clearly described and adds value to the user experience. ²
• Multiple versions of similar AI-generated content without curation do not meet Itch's guidelines. ²
• There was no corresponding increase in downloads or purchases despite the rise in game uploads. ³
• Bulk uploads of AI-generated games are against Itch.io's content guidelines. ³
• Itch.io has started implementing new policies requiring AI disclosures for certain categories of content. ³
• Valve has not provided a strong response to concerns about AI-generated content on Steam. ¹
• Valve does not restrict AI-focused developers from accessing its platform like Itch does. ²
• Steam faces issues with rapid cloning of games by other developers using AI after sharing progress. ²
• Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, criticizes Valve's AI disclosure policy. ²
• First-time uploaders are primarily responsible for the increase in game uploads. ³