Hours after announcing a collab with Fortnite, Vampire Survivors dev suggests it may back out over Epic’s touting of generative AI
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle announced it may withdraw from a planned Fortnite collaboration, citing concerns over Epic Games’ adoption of generative AI. The partnership was revealed as part of a series of upcoming Fortnite crossovers announced this week. However, hours after the announcement, Poncle posted on Reddit suggesting the studio is “reviewing” the collaboration following Epic’s public commitment to generative AI integration.
Epic demonstrated its AI usage through several videos released this week, showcasing how generative AI assists with multiple aspects of game development—including concept art creation, character design, and environmental modeling. Additionally, the company revealed new generative AI capabilities being introduced to Unreal Engine, emphasizing the technology’s role in its creative pipeline.
The potential withdrawal reflects growing concerns within the gaming industry regarding generative AI’s use in game development, particularly around questions of consent, creative attribution, and impact on human artists and developers. While Epic has positioned its AI adoption as a workflow enhancement, Poncle’s hesitation signals resistance from independent developers who hold ethical reservations about collaborating with studios that heavily utilize the technology.