Generative AI
Ongoing coverage on Generative AI.
Latest coverage
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.
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.
Evening Interviews
Developers of the Chinese game The Scroll of Taiwu discussed what Western developers misunderstand about the Chinese market and their decision to reject generative AI. They also mentioned that their next project, 'Control Resonant,' is their largest game to date.
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.
Palworld Developer Doesn’t Use Generative AI Because “Gamers Don’t Want It”
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that the company does not use generative AI in game development because players are against it, calling current trends unsustainable. He believes that games should be assumed to be human-made unless otherwise stated, and expressed concern over a future where studios might need to add disclaimers. Buckley also mentioned that while some studios might use AI to save time, Pocketpair prefers to utilize its in-house artists.
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.
Epic Games details how it's embracing generative AI in Unreal Engine
Epic Games is integrating generative AI into future versions of Unreal Engine. This move signifies a significant embrace of AI technologies within the game development engine.
"Gamers don't want it": Palworld lead says Pocketpair doesn't touch AI because players hate it and artists "like doing stuff themselves"
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that the company avoids generative AI because gamers dislike it and their in-house artists prefer creating assets themselves. He believes the backlash against AI in games, exemplified by recent concerns at Summer Game Fest and Steam's disclosure policies, will continue. Buckley also noted regional differences in AI adoption, with Western markets being more resistant.
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.
Epic sees 'central role' for gen AI models like Claude & Codex in Unreal Engine 6
Epic Games has revealed that generative AI models like Claude and Codex will play a central role in Unreal Engine 6, aiming to reduce tedious tasks in game development. The engine will integrate these AI tools to speed up content creation, including level design, character rigging, and particle systems, while also improving the Epic Developer Assistant. Unreal Engine 6 is not expected to enter Early Access until 2027 at the earliest.
Unreal Engine's big new idea is letting gen-AI LLMs plug directly into it and talk to it
Epic Games has introduced a new tool for Unreal Engine 5.8 that allows generative AI large language models to directly integrate with and control the engine via text prompts. This tool, called the Unreal MCP plugin, was demonstrated by Michael Lentine and is available now for developers, significantly reducing the time needed for asset creation and iteration.
Why so many game developers don't want to use generative AI
Many game developers express strong reservations about using generative AI, citing ethical concerns, environmental impact, copyright issues, and job security risks. Despite some executives championing AI as a tool for efficiency, a significant portion of the industry views it as unproven, potentially harmful to creativity, and undesirable by players.
"How dare we use something like that on someone's dream?" – Why generative AI artwork is a no-go for The Scroll of Taiwu
ConchShip Games, developers of the wuxia RPG The Scroll of Taiwu, have stated they will not use generative AI for artwork, believing it compromises the unique vision and creative expression essential to game development. The studio emphasizes the importance of human creativity and the trust built with players over years of development, warning that using AI could be seen as a shortcut and damage that relationship.
Around a fifth of Steam Next Fest demos have a generative AI disclosure
Approximately one-fifth of the game demos featured during Steam Next Fest included a disclosure regarding the use of generative AI in their development. The article will analyze player reactions to these disclosures and their potential impact on game development practices.
Fortnite is using AI to help make skins and then charging up to £15 for them
Epic Games is facing backlash from Fortnite players for its use of generative AI in the creation of in-game skins, which are then sold for up to £15. While Epic Games states that creative control remains with human artists, fans are concerned about the implications of AI in game development and its potential impact on artists, especially following recent layoffs at the company.
AI Yi-Yi!
Over a thousand games featured in Steam Next Fest included some form of generative AI disclosure. The article also touches on the potential impact of the Anthropic company on American AI dominance and a recent court ruling.
More than a thousand games in Steam Next Fest feature a generative AI disclosure of some kind
Approximately 20 percent of the games featured in the Steam Next Fest event have disclosed the use of generative AI in their development. Valve requires developers to declare AI usage, a policy that has led to clarifications from companies like Sega regarding their use of the technology. Generative AI remains a controversial topic within the gaming community.
This Google Chrome extension warns you about Steam games are made with generative AI
A new Google Chrome extension called 'AI warning for Steam' helps users identify games on Steam that disclose the use of generative AI in their development. The extension alerts users with a pop-up detailing the AI usage, allowing them to decide whether to proceed with viewing the game's page. This tool addresses Valve's requirement for developers to disclose AI usage, which is often buried deep within game descriptions.
