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Following concerns regarding the influx of AI-generated titles at Steam Next Fest, Pocketpair public relations manager John Buckley has urged developers to avoid judging the event's effectiveness solely through extreme success or failure stories. Buckley suggests that while the event has become more crowded, developers should consult historical data from platforms like GameDiscoverCo to understand long-term trends.
Buckley notes that while AI-generated "slop" is a legitimate issue, it is not a new phenomenon for low-effort games to struggle for visibility. He argues that most of these titles quickly sink to the bottom of the platform, much like low-quality games did before the rise of generative AI tools.
The executive highlights that the event has evolved significantly over the last five to six years. While there are more games today, there has also been a considerable influx of new players. Consequently, discourse often centers on the top 25 demos, as many players now prioritize popular, high-quality titles rather than actively searching for hidden gems.
Despite the challenges of discoverability, Buckley maintains that Steam Next Fest remains a worthwhile gamble. He points out that if median wishlist gains have remained relatively stable despite the increased volume of games, the event may not be as dire as perceived. He encourages developers to remain persistent and approach the data with nuance.
