Big Walk devs admit to gen AI use, worry that they’re part of the problem amid backlash on Steam

House House has acknowledged using large language models during the final stages of developing its co-op game Big Walk, prompting criticism from players and a surge in negative Steam reviews. The studio said the use was limited to technical problem-solving and did not extend to artwork or other parts of the game.

The developers estimate that AI assistance affected well under 0.1% of the code, including about 10 lines used to address performance slowdowns at sunrise and sunset. House House said Valve does not require disclosure of code or chatbot use on Steam, apologised to those who felt the use fell short of their standards, and called the absence of an internal AI policy a failure. At the time of the article, 156 same-day Steam reviews were negative, with 36% positive.