Former Valve developer pushes back against Epic Games CEO’s Steam criticisms

The ongoing tension between Epic Games and Valve has escalated, with a former Valve developer publicly countering recent claims made by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney. As reported by GamesRadar+, Chet Faliszek, known for his work on Valve titles like Portal and Half-Life, released a video responding to Sweeney’s assertions that Valve is “holding gaming back” and his harsh criticism of Steam’s AI disclosure policies.

The clash over AI and industry practices

Faliszek directly addressed Sweeney’s characterization of Steam’s AI disclosure requirements, which the Epic CEO recently labeled as “abhorrent” and a “political statement.” Faliszek argued that these disclosures are simply a way for players to make informed purchasing decisions. He pushed back against the idea that Valve is forcing developers to share political affiliations, stating, “Nobody’s saying legitimately to do that.” Furthermore, Faliszek noted that Epic’s own asset marketplace, Fab, utilizes AI disclosures, questioning why Sweeney would maintain those practices while criticizing Steam for the same transparency.

Addressing the suggestion that Steam treats players like children, Faliszek countered: “Players are just making informed choices… Why are you treating all the players like children?” He suggested that Sweeney should instead consider what players actually want to know about the games they purchase.

Valve’s development philosophy

Regarding the claim that Valve has stifled the industry by locking games into the Steamworks “walled garden,” Faliszek defended Valve’s strategy of providing foundational tools while leaving room for third-party solutions and community-led development. While Faliszek acknowledged that Epic offers an impressive suite of backend tools, he noted that if Valve attempted to solve every problem for every developer, they would likely face further accusations of monopolistic behavior.

To drive his point home, Faliszek challenged Sweeney to “put your money where your mouth is” by releasing titles like Alan Wake 2 on Steam, arguing that keeping games off the platform contradicts Sweeney’s own arguments about being pro-consumer and pro-developer.

Why it matters

For players, this public disagreement highlights two very different approaches to digital storefronts and game discovery. While the debate over AI disclosures may seem like a corporate argument, it impacts how much information players receive about the games they buy. Steam’s current policy favors transparency regarding AI usage, which directly informs consumer choice.

Additionally, the discussion highlights the ongoing fragmentation of PC gaming. With major titles often exclusive to specific launchers, players are frequently forced to navigate multiple storefronts. Whether these arguments will influence future policies on either the Epic Games Store or Steam remains to be seen, but the divide between the two companies continues to shape the landscape of how games are accessed and managed on PC.