Fortnite-maker Epic Games makes 'huge pivot' with AI, CEO says

San Francisco, October 13 - Fortnite creator Epic Games is radically shifting its focus towards artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite video game development, according to the company's CEO Tim Sweeney. Speaking on X, Sweeney announced that the American gaming giant is reallocating its developers to harness the power of AI, stating that the objective is not to reduce personnel but to empower everyone to produce more and superior content while benefiting the entire Unreal Engine user base.

The move comes amidst a contentious discourse on AI's role in creative industries and follows Epic's decision to cut over 1,000 jobs six months ago, which the company attributed to slower growth rather than AI. By integrating AI internally, Epic aims to bolster its resilience against the AI revolution, assist other developers in achieving the same, and deliver enhanced code and content at a faster pace, as highlighted by Sweeney.

He dismissed a user's criticism on X, asserting that their "inability to read the room is really really astounding." Sweeney emphasized the company's responsibility as a provider of tools and technology to the gaming industry to design tools that cater to both the present and the future, describing AI as empowering for creators.

Despite AI's widespread adoption in game development, particularly in Japan where over 85 percent of developers utilize it, compared to only 36 percent in North America, Epic has reportedly postponed the launch of a game developed in collaboration with Disney, as per a Bloomberg report. The game, featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars, was scheduled for March release, and Epic instructed employees to adopt an "AI first" approach in development. Epic declined to comment on the delay.