Fortnite‘s Discovery section has become increasingly populated with AI-generated thumbnails competing for player attention, and Epic Games has no immediate plans to change this trend. During a recent YouTube livestream focused on moderation in the battle royale, Epic’s product management director Dan Walsh and executive vice president Saxs Persson addressed the company’s stance on generative AI usage within the platform.
According to Walsh, when it comes to moderation of thumbnails, Epic doesn’t focus on which tools creators use to make them. Their primary concern is whether the content complies with established rules. He explained that this approach stems from the rapid advancement of generative AI technology and the substantial workload that would be required to moderate its usage specifically.
Walsh added that AI is becoming progressively harder to detect as it evolves, eventually becoming just another creation tool rather than something that stands out as unique. This development makes specific detection increasingly difficult to the point where it would likely become unenforceable.
Epic’s Internal Approach to AI Technology
When discussing Epic’s own use of AI (though not generative AI specifically), Persson highlighted how the technology is transforming workflows to make them incredibly powerful, citing Epic’s Unreal Engine MetaHumans as an example of this approach.
Regarding AI-generated art specifically, Persson suggested that if AI thumbnails are easily identifiable, it indicates they have a particular generic look. He believes this creates an opportunity for artists with distinct styles to stand out. Persson confirmed that Epic has no plans to start using AI models for creating Fortnite outfits, stating that their current approach embraces technology while keeping humans at the center of the creative process.
Walsh agreed with this assessment, noting that creators who invest effort in producing high-quality thumbnails are naturally standing out from the crowd of generic content.
Copyright Concerns and Content Moderation
The discussion also touched on a trend from last year involving numerous thumbnails featuring AI-generated images that incorporated graphics from copyrighted properties like SpongeBob, Family Guy, and The Simpsons. Persson pointed out that violative content has always existed, regardless of whether AI was involved in its creation. He mentioned that misleading elements like currency graphics on thumbnails existed before AI became prevalent, acknowledging the difficulty in drawing clear boundaries.
While Epic understands the overwhelming challenge of moderating the enormous number of user-created game modes and maps, their primary moderation concern appears to be intellectual property infringement rather than the use of AI itself.
The increasing presence of AI art across Fortnite’s Discovery section has given parts of the game a noticeably less polished appearance. However, Epic maintains they won’t be using this technology for their own asset generation in the near future, distinguishing their approach from companies like Activision, which has reportedly begun implementing AI in Call of Duty development.