Generative AI
Ongoing coverage on Generative AI.
Latest coverage
After Epic outline a genAI focused Unreal Engine 6, Vampire Survivors studio Poncle say they're "reviewing" their Fortnite collab
Following Epic Games' announcement of generative AI integration in Unreal Engine 6, Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Fortnite. Poncle expressed concern over Epic's plans to use AI for asset creation, including Fortnite characters, and is assessing if their upcoming Fortnite collaboration will proceed. The studio aims to ensure no assets involved in the collaboration were created using generative AI.
Palworld lead on generative AI: Gamers don't want it
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, does not use generative AI in its games because players do not want it, according to communications director John Buckley. He stated that while some companies may use AI to save time, its prominence in the industry may not last. Buckley also noted that some developers are proactively clarifying their games are human-made, which he finds a concerning trend.
Epic Games shows how gen AI messes up Fortnite’s art — and uses it anyway
Epic Games has demonstrated its use of generative AI in creating Fortnite assets, despite requiring significant manual correction of errors. This approach has drawn criticism from fans and led to developer Poncle reconsidering a collaboration with Epic due to concerns over AI usage.
'Gamers Don't Want It': Palworld Dev Against Generative AI as It Grows More Common in Games
John Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, stated that the studio behind Palworld is against the use of generative AI in game development. He believes gamers do not want AI-generated content and that its utility is questionable, contrasting with some Asian markets that are more willing to adopt the technology. Steam now requires disclosure of generative AI usage in game listings.
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.
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.
