Fortnite Maker Confirms How It Uses Generative AI to Help Create Concept Art and Designs for New Skins
Epic Games has provided an inside look at how it integrates generative AI into the creative process for designing new Fortnite character skins and in-game locations. In a video posted to the Unreal Engine YouTube channel, the company demonstrated its workflow for developing new characters, showcasing how AI tools assist in specific stages of design iteration.
The design process begins with traditional hand-drawn concept art during the ideation phase. Once the initial concepts are finalized, Epic Games uses AI generation with specific prompts to refine the artwork, transforming 2D sketches into designs that more closely resemble 3D models. Importantly, Epic Games makes a clear distinction between the creative ideation stage—which remains human-driven—and the later refinement stages where AI tools are applied.
The footage reveals that while AI generation accelerates certain aspects of the design pipeline, the technology is not without limitations. The AI can introduce unwanted additions or errors in the generated artwork, requiring artists to manually review and correct the output. This highlights that generative AI in Epic Games’ workflow functions as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human creativity and artistic judgment.
The revelation provides a concrete example of how major game studios are adopting generative AI to streamline production pipelines while maintaining creative control. By implementing AI at the concept stage rather than throughout the entire asset creation pipeline, Epic Games balances efficiency gains with quality assurance.