Itch.io Reveals Just How Much AI Slop Is Flooding Gaming Storefronts

itch.io, a platform known for supporting indie developers, has seen daily game page creations double from around 3,000 in August to over 6,000 by late October. The surge coincides with a rise in generative AI tools used by developers, flooding the storefront with new releases. This influx makes it increasingly difficult for hand-crafted indie games to gain visibility among the clutter.

The platform shared the data via Bluesky on October 31, highlighting that AI projects now dominate the majority of new game pages. While the number of pages has surged, itch.io confirmed that downloads and purchases have not doubled during the same period. This disparity suggests that the influx of AI-generated content is not driving meaningful engagement or revenue for developers.

Indie developers, who rely on itch.io for distribution and exposure, face growing challenges as their work competes with AI-generated alternatives. The platform’s accessibility, which once made it a haven for student projects and game jams, now risks becoming oversaturated with low-effort content. Many higher-profile indie titles are also available on itch.io, often included in charity bundles, further complicating the landscape.

Steam, another major storefront, is similarly affected, with AI-made games overwhelming demos during events like Steam Next Fest. itch.io has taken a step by requesting developers disclose AI usage, but broader industry action may be needed to address the issue. Without stricter monitoring, the problem of AI-generated content flooding storefronts is expected to persist, complicating visibility for traditional indie developers.