The release of the salacious Fire Emblem-inspired visual novel Food Devils has been delayed due to issues with Steam's game approval process, according to developer Studio Daimon. The studio believes the hold-up is a result of Steam's review queue being inundated with games that utilize artificial intelligence.
Studio Daimon submitted their game build for approval on October 12th, but as of the date of their announcement, over 20 days later, it had still not been approved. Typically, Steam notifies developers that the review process can take up to seven business days. "We can only assume it's because Steam's review queue is clogged up by AI slop, but the whole process is now taking several weeks for some developers," the studio stated in a blog post.
Data from Game Discovery Tool indicates a significant increase in AI-disclosed games on Steam. In October 2026, over 50% of games released on the platform featured an AI disclosure, a notable jump from previous years. While SteamDB data shows a rise in overall game releases, the correlation between increased AI game submissions and extended review times is a growing concern for developers.
"Even now, we don't know when Steam will give us the final OK to finally release our game," Studio Daimon wrote. They mentioned that an urgent request to Steam support last week went unanswered, leading to the potential missed release date. The studio reported that these delays have impacted many developers throughout October, forcing some to postpone their launches.
Studio Daimon is still hoping to release Food Devils by the end of the week, but acknowledged that the situation is beyond their control. They encouraged interested players to wishlist the game on Steam in preparation for its eventual launch.