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 opened with 8,202 playable demos, more than twice last year’s total. The event offers PC players a chance to discover upcoming games, but its rapid growth has renewed concerns about generative AI use, copied games and whether smaller releases can be found.

At last June’s festival, about 17 per cent of demos disclosed generative AI use, though the true share may have been higher. Developers Alliance Arts cancelled the festival demo for *Drunken Goddess Reflux*, fearing others could imitate it before launch; *Needle in a Haystack* has also faced a wave of copies. The surge in competing demos may make it harder for independent developers to reach players.