Fortnite
News, coverage and analysis tracking Fortnite across the outlets.
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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 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.
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.
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.
'It feels to many like a tidal wave is sweeping over the AAA game business,' says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney in his…
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney described the current AAA game business as facing a "tidal wave" due to escalating development costs and a high failure rate for major releases. He contrasted this with the success of platforms like Roblox and proposed Epic's vision of a connected metaverse ecosystem built on Unreal Engine as a more developer-friendly alternative.
Vampire Survivors Dev 'Reviewing' Fortnite Collaboration Due to Epic's Use of Generative AI
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Epic Games for Fortnite content due to Epic's public embrace of generative AI in its development workflow. Poncle expressed concern over the use of AI for creating game assets, including potential Fortnite characters based on Vampire Survivors IP. The studio will provide updates on the partnership's future.
Vampire Survivors developer 'reviewing' Fortnite collaboration in wake of Epic's gen AI stance
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Fortnite due to Epic Games' stance on generative AI. Following Epic's State of Unreal showcase, which highlighted the use of AI in Unreal Engine and Fortnite asset creation, Poncle announced on Discord that they are reconsidering the partnership. The studio has previously expressed disinterest in using generative AI for game development.
Fortnite Will Let You Make The Simpsons Games, And You Can Bet Someone Will Make Hit & Run
Epic Games and Disney are enabling Fortnite players to create their own games based on The Simpsons using the UEFN program, featuring officially licensed characters and settings. This initiative follows a successful Star Wars IP toolkit and a popular Fortnite x The Simpsons crossover event. Players are expected to leverage these tools to recreate games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run, with Disney expressing excitement for the creative possibilities.
You’ll Be Able To Use Your Fortnite Skins In Other Games, Eventually
Epic Games announced that Unreal Engine 6 will enable Fortnite skins to be used in other UE6 games, and vice versa, as part of its metaverse initiative. This aims to create a shared economy for smart assets that function across different titles. An early access version of Unreal Engine 6 is planned for late 2027.
Unreal Engine 6 has a novel idea: you using your Fortnite skins in other Unreal games and vice versa
Epic Games is exploring a shared economy for Unreal Engine 6, allowing players to use Fortnite skins in other Unreal Engine games and vice versa. Development team lead Marcus Wassmer detailed this initiative, aiming to create portable player value and foster ecosystem growth. While Unreal Engine 6 is still in early development with an estimated early access in late 2027, it will also feature enhanced multiplayer support and cross-platform capabilities.
Perfect Ten: The 10 most rage-inducing (but fixable) MMORPG industry problems
This opinion piece outlines ten common and fixable problems within the MMORPG industry, ranging from the over-sexualization of characters and misleading 'pay-to-win' discussions to poor website and communication practices. It also criticizes trend-chasing studio creation, premature announcements, historical inaccuracies in marketing, and the continued lack of essential features like group finders.