Fortnite Has Updated In-Game Art After Fans Discovered a Google Gemini AI Image Watermark
Epic Games quietly updated a piece of in-game artwork from Fortnite after the gaming community discovered it contained a Google Gemini AI watermark. The affected asset was the track artwork for “Meow,” a music track added to Fortnite last month featuring artists Ironmouse, Sleeping Forest, and HalaCG.
The Gemini watermark appeared in the bottom right corner of the original artwork but went largely unnoticed until last weekend, when players spotted it and shared the discovery across social media and Reddit. The finding sparked discussion about the use of AI-generated imagery in commercial games and questions about proper disclosure and permissions.
Epic Games responded by replacing the artwork with an alternate version that no longer displays the Gemini watermark. The swift action suggests the company acknowledged the concern, though it has not issued a public statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the original artwork’s creation or the circumstances that led to its use.
The incident highlights growing scrutiny around AI-generated content in gaming, particularly when used without clear disclosure. As AI tools like Google’s Gemini become more accessible to creators, the visible watermarks typically indicate the tool’s involvement in image generation. For a live-service game like Fortnite that frequently updates with new music, cosmetics, and other in-game items, this represents a notable instance where AI-related issues in game content became visible to the broader player base and prompted developer action.