@TimSweeneyEpic

Tim,

I’m not sure you’ll see this, but as an indie developer who’s spent months defending creators using AI against online boycott campaigns, I wanted to share a concrete idea for how Epic could change the conversation.

Now you’re facing the same pressure. The conversation around Epic quickly turns from what you’re building to accusations about your character: you care about nature, so how could you support AI? Suddenly, you’re being asked to defend data-center water consumption instead of discussing what these tools can help developers create.
Environmental questions deserve evidence and honest scrutiny. But using them to portray everyone who embraces AI as a hypocrite is a way to turn undecided people against creators without ever judging their work.

That’s the atmosphere many smaller developers face, with far fewer resources to push back. Disclose AI use, and your game risks becoming a target before anyone even plays it. Keep quiet, and you’re accused of hiding something. It rewards silence and makes honest discussion harder.

Epic has an opportunity to change that through direct support.

Create a dedicated grant program for high-quality AI-assisted games, inspired by Epic MegaGrants.

Back the vibe coders and small teams putting serious effort into original games. Help promising developers turn playable prototypes into polished releases on the Epic Games Store.

Make the selection standards clear:

• A playable build with compelling gameplay.
• Original ideas and a clear creative direction.
• Evidence of iteration, testing, polish, and attention to detail.
• Transparent explanations of how AI contributes to development.
• Appropriate rights to the content being shipped.
• A realistic budget, development milestones, and release plan.

Using AI alone shouldn’t earn anyone funding. The game should demonstrate why it deserves to exist and why players would enjoy it.

Alongside funding, offer technical guidance, QA, playtesting, and store visibility. These are often the things that separate a promising solo project from a game ready for paying customers. Open applications across engines would also let Epic discover talent wherever it’s building.

If Steam doesn’t seize this opportunity, Epic can.

A well-run program could attract ambitious developers, bring distinctive games and their audiences to your store, and build loyalty among creators who feel unwelcome elsewhere. Start with a focused pilot, publish the results, and grow it around games players actually want.

It would also give developers something more useful than another argument online: a credible path to release, with clear standards and a platform willing to stand behind games that meet them.

People are free to dislike AI and choose what they buy. But organized pressure shouldn’t decide which creators get an opportunity.

The strongest answer to “AI games are all slop” is a lineup of excellent games people love playing.

Help developers build that lineup!