Epic Games
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Epic Says AI Will Play A Bigger Role In Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games is increasing the role of Generative AI in Unreal Engine 6, using it as an 'art concepting process' to assist artists in creating 3D in-game assets for titles like Fortnite. While the technology aims to speed up development by transforming sketches into 3D models, Epic emphasizes that human artists will refine the AI-generated outputs to meet high standards. The integration of GenAI has received mixed reactions from developers, with some expressing concerns about its implementation.
Vampire Survivors studio Poncle is "reviewing" its Fortnite collaboration after the State of Unreal show and Epic's focus on generative AI
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Fortnite following Epic Games' showcase of generative AI tools in Unreal Engine. Poncle expressed concern over Epic's use of AI for asset creation, stating they would reassess the partnership. This comes amid ongoing ethical debates surrounding AI in game development, including its impact on artists and potential copyright issues.
Fortnite boss hopes to take on Roblox's massive everythingverse with a "very different" massive everythingverse, as Epic unveil genAI-infused Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney outlined his vision for a future "everythingverse" to compete with Roblox, emphasizing open standards and collaboration. The company also unveiled Unreal Engine 6, featuring generative AI integration aimed at streamlining game development and reducing tedious tasks for creators.
Hours after announcing a Vampire Survivors crossover with Fortnite, the roguelike's lead is now "reviewing" the decision as Epic Games goes big on gen AI
Following Epic Games' announcement of its use of generative AI in Fortnite development, Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its planned crossover with the game. The decision comes after Epic Games showcased its AI art concepting process, which has drawn criticism due to recent layoffs and the broader implications of AI in game development.
Unreal Engine 6 is bringing generative AI into its development tools
Epic Games is integrating generative AI into Unreal Engine 6's development tools, aiming to streamline tasks like level design, character rigging, and lighting. The engine will also feature the Verse programming language for more accessible development and support for persistent, large-scale live experiences. Unreal Engine 6 will unify Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Editor for Fortnite, enhancing interoperability and collaboration among developers.
Unreal Engine 5.8 just got a faster Lumen for Nintendo Switch 2
Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.8, introducing Lumen Lite, a performance-optimized version of its global illumination system specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, aiming to enable 60fps gaming. The update also includes improvements for PC and other platforms, along with new features like MegaLights and experimental Mesh Terrain.
Vampire Survivors Developer 'Reviewing' Fortnite Crossover Plans, After Epic Details Unreal Engine 6 AI Usage
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reportedly reconsidering a Fortnite crossover due to Epic Games' recent confirmation of using generative AI in Fortnite's development. This news follows Epic's announcement regarding AI usage in Unreal Engine 6.
Sonic-Themed Fortnite Collab Teased, Coming Soon
Epic Games has teased an upcoming collaboration between Fortnite and SEGA's Sonic franchise, specifically referencing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. This partnership is set to launch soon on the Epic Store and within Fortnite. The announcement was made during Epic's 'State of Unreal' showcase, which also revealed other upcoming collaborations with titles like Vampire Survivors and Phantom Blade Zero, as well as an expansion of The Simpsons content.
Evening Reading - June 17, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming news items including the launch of Pokemon Champions on mobile, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions' early access, and Epic Games' stance on generative AI in Unreal Engine 6. It also notes the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 5's first new heist in years and the porting of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PlayStation consoles.
Epic's Unreal Engine Rolls Out Major Update, Lumen Lite Mode Now Available For Switch 2
Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 5.8, introducing a new 'Lumen Lite' mode for its dynamic global illumination system. This feature is designed to significantly reduce GPU costs, making it viable for platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2, where it can enable 60 fps performance. The update also includes optimizations for Nanite and is the last major planned update for Unreal Engine 5 before work shifts to Unreal Engine 6.
Roadmaps and Plans
Rockstar Games is adding a new heist to Grand Theft Auto Online in July. Separately, a new idea for Unreal Engine 6 suggests that Fortnite skins could be usable across other Unreal Engine games and vice versa.
Quoteworthy
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated that Unreal Engine has the potential to disrupt the gaming landscape dominated by platforms like Roblox. He believes Unreal Engine offers a more robust and versatile solution for game development.
Game and Mod Development
Epic Games has released Lore, a next-generation open-source version control system designed for game and mod development. This new tool aims to provide advanced features for managing game projects.
AI Yi-Yi!
The developer of Vampire Survivors, Poncle, has suggested they may withdraw from a collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' promotion of generative AI. This comes shortly after the announcement of the partnership, with the developer expressing concerns about the technology.
Everything you need to know from State of Unreal 2026: Unreal Engine 6, Unreal Engine 5.8, and $1bn paid to Fortnite devs
Epic Games has unveiled Unreal Engine 6, which aims to expand AAA game development capabilities with a next-generation pipeline built within Fortnite. Unreal Engine 5.8 is now available with new features like MegaLights and improved Lumen for 60 fps on Nintendo Switch and PCs. The company also announced a new open-source version control system called Lore and revealed that over $1 billion has been paid to Fortnite developers since the launch of Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
No Law Creative Director Discusses How Unreal Engine 5 Was Used to Create Port Desire
Developer Neon Giant showcased how they are using Unreal Engine 5 for their open-world shooter No Law, focusing on "density over scale" for the city of Port Desire. Creative director Tor Frick highlighted features like Nanite and Lumen for visual fidelity and dynamic lighting, and MetaHuman for NPCs. The team also discussed similarities and differences with Cyberpunk 2077, emphasizing No Law's more intimate and personal experience. The game is planned for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Epic Games Gives Us An Exciting First Look At Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games provided an early look at Unreal Engine 6, with Marcus Wassmer detailing its aim to unify Unreal Engine 5 and the Unreal Editor for Fortnite into a single platform. The engine will feature improved rendering, reduced cook times, tighter iteration loops, and a new framework based on the Verse programming language, promising to enable a new generation of collaborative game development.
Hours after announcing a collab with Fortnite, Vampire Survivors dev suggests it may back out over Epic's touting…
Following Epic Games' announcement of a collaboration with Vampire Survivors for Fortnite, developer Poncle expressed concerns and is reviewing the partnership. These concerns stem from Epic's use of generative AI in creating game assets and features, as demonstrated at Unreal Fest. The developer stated they will provide updates on the collaboration's future.
The Simpsons joins Fortnite’s IP Partner Program allowing developers to create “fully authentic” Simpsons games
Disney has granted Epic Games the intellectual property rights for The Simpsons franchise, allowing third-party developers to create authentic Simpsons games within Fortnite. This announcement was made at Epic's Unreal Fest Chicago 2026, signaling new opportunities for game creation based on the popular animated series.
'[It] is going to change a lot about how games are made': Epic merges Unreal Engine 5 with Unreal Engine for Fortnite to give game devs around the world Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games is merging Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Engine for Fortnite into a single package, Unreal Engine 6, set for an early access release in late 2027. This unification aims to simplify game development and cross-platform deployment, with Rocket League serving as the initial showcase. The new engine will also feature Verse as its primary scripting language and integrate AI tools for development tasks.
