Epic Games has confirmed it’s using generative AI coding tools to develop Unreal Engine 6 and the latest updates for Fortnite. Marcus Wassmer from Epic shared details about this approach, and PC Gamer reports that the response was straightforward: “Yes, we are vibe-coding things.”
Wassmer highlighted the decision as a matter of speed. “We are more concerned about the risks of moving too slowly than we are about AI skepticism,” he stated, according to PC Gamer and Rock Paper Shotgun. Epic is balancing community concerns with competitive pressure and has chosen to keep advancing.
These comments provide more clarity than previous statements from Epic. Rock Paper Shotgun points out that the studio has discussed creating a new Epic Games launcher using AI-assisted coding. Polygon describes this confirmation as a sign of “just how extensively” AI is integrated into Unreal Engine 6 and the latest Fortnite updates.
The timing is crucial. In March 2026, Epic let go of over 1,000 employees due to a reported decline in Fortnite’s revenue. While Epic hasn’t linked the layoffs to its AI initiatives in the materials we’ve reviewed, these two events happen concurrently: a reduced workforce and a public commitment to AI tools for its key products.
Unreal Engine has significance beyond Epic’s own titles. Third-party studios rely on it, and the extent of AI assistance in its code is a concern for every team that uses it. Epic hasn’t yet detailed how it assesses or tests AI-generated code.
| Developer / Publisher | Epic Games / Epic Games Publishing |
| Fortnite release date | September 26, 2017 |
| Genres | Shooter, Action |
| Epic job cuts reported (March 2026) | 1,000+ |
Community Pulse
The overall sentiment in the community regarding Epic’s AI strategy seems mixed, but we haven’t gathered player or developer comments to share just yet. Epic’s framing indicates it anticipates pushback but has decided to forge ahead regardless. We’ll include community reactions as they come in.
What To Watch
- Disclosure details: Whether Epic reveals which Unreal Engine 6 and Fortnite systems use AI-generated code, and how they evaluate them.
- Developer reaction: How studios using Unreal respond, since the quality of engine code impacts every project built on it.
- Player response: Whether Fortnite’s player base reacts to this announcement, and if bugs in future updates are linked to AI tools.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
