Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is currently reviewing its planned collaboration with Fortnite. This decision comes in the wake of Epic Games' recent State of Unreal presentation, which detailed significant integration of generative AI into Unreal Engine 6, including its use in creating game assets and characters.
News of the generative AI focus within Unreal Engine 6 reached developer Poncle concurrently with the wider public, prompting a reassessment of the studio's involvement with Fortnite. In a comment on the Vampire Survivors subreddit, a representative from Poncle stated, "Following today's news about gen AI usage by Epic to create all sort of game assets, including Fortnite characters, we're currently 'reviewing' our collaboration with Fortnite. We'll let you know if anything moves forward."
While the term "reviewing" suggests a period of evaluation rather than an outright cancellation, the studio's statement indicates a need to ensure that assets related to the collaboration, such as Vampire Survivors skins or characters within Fortnite, are not developed using or aided by generative AI. This move reflects a growing unease within parts of the gaming industry regarding the ethical and practical implications of AI-generated content.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has previously voiced a less cautious stance on AI disclosures, having suggested last year that digital storefronts should not require generative AI disclosures. This viewpoint contrasts with the concerns raised by Poncle and other developers who are wary of the widespread adoption of AI in game development, citing potential impacts on game assets and creative integrity.