itch.io says it has removed “a couple terabytes” of AI-generated content from its storefront as it responds to a sharp rise in new game pages. The platform has also expanded its AI disclosure requirements and introduced filters allowing users to exclude some or all use of Generative AI from browsing and search results.
The storefront said the number of game pages created each day had doubled over the previous two months, while downloads and purchases had not. It did not give a reason for the increase. In a social media post announcing the removals, Itch.io cautioned that uploading large quantities of poorly optimized AI-generated models does not make it appropriate to do so.
Itch.io’s guidelines say generative AI can be useful or interesting, but warn against using automated systems to mass-produce product pages. The platform may treat such activity as spam and remove pages from browse and search. Its rules cover projects created predominantly by algorithms or AI with little human involvement, minimally curated random content, and multiple AI-generated versions of essentially the same material.
Developers and publishers must disclose generative AI use. That requirement, which previously applied to game assets, now also covers tabletop games, books, comics and soundtracks. Itch.io says users can also use new browsing and search filters to exclude certain forms of generative AI, or all of them.
Sources: PC Gamer.