Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated that AI tools will initiate a new era in game development. He argues that AI will make projects financially viable that previously cost significantly more to produce than they generated in revenue. Elon Musk publicly supported this perspective on X.
Sweeney noted that while developing the original Unreal Engine in 1998, approximately 70% of his time was spent on routine typing and refactoring. He compared this to modern AI-assisted coding. The remaining 30% of his work involved complex technical tasks such as texture mapping and networking.
The executive highlighted that AI is now capable of solving complex technical problems, which he described as an unexpected development. Epic Games has recently instructed its staff to move away from manual coding in favor of AI-driven development tools.
The shift toward AI is expected to change the nature of creative work in gaming. Designers may soon focus on defining character personalities and biographies rather than writing individual lines of dialogue. Sweeney pointed to the May 2025 Fortnite event, where players interacted with an AI-powered Darth Vader, as an early example of this technology.
