Google has launched a sophisticated AI video era software able to creating Fortnite gameplay clips that look virtually indistinguishable from the actual factor.
Veo 3 launched this week and has already raised eyebrows for its dystopian capacity to create life-like video clips from easy text-based prompts and embody realistic-sounding audio.
Different generative AI applications, corresponding to OpenAI’s Sora, have been doing comparable for a while — however the capacity for Veo 3 to embody lifelike audio actually is a outstanding, if chilling, step ahead.
Veo 3 customers are nonetheless testing out what the software is able to, however inside two days have begun producing Fortnite gameplay with a pretend streamer commenting over the high. The standard is nice sufficient that, whereas scrolling on social media, you’d assume it was a legimate clip from YouTube or Twitch.
Technically, Veo 3 shouldn’t be infringing on anybody’s copyrighted materials — and it is protected to assume Fortnite developer Epic Video games didn’t signal this one off. However clearly the AI software has had entry to the tens of millions of hours of Fortnite gameplay posted on-line, and is now ready to reproduce a convincing illustration on command.
One clip, exhibiting a streamer celebrating as they win a match utilizing solely their pickaxe, was apparently created inside Veo 3 utilizing a text-based immediate of 9 phrases: “Streamer getting a victory royale with simply his pickaxe”.
Uhhh… I do not assume Veo 3 is meant to be producing Fortnite gameplay pic.twitter.com/bWKruQ5Nox
— Matt Shumer (@mattshumer_) May 21, 2025
In scripting this immediate, Veo 3 has not been instructed particularly to create Fortnite gameplay. Nonetheless, it understands from the context what sport the consumer is referring to.
Veo 3’s talents throw up all kinds of questions, and much more urgent ones than easy copyright considerations. The power to create footage like this undoubtedly aids customers trying to idiot others with disinformation, and in so doing undermine belief in official footage.
“I can’t inform if that is actual or not,” reads one reply. “We’re cooked,” reads one other.
“The one approach that is attainable is that if Veo 3 was skilled on an infinite quantity of Fortnite content material,” a 3rd reply reads. “Wouldn’t be shocked if every little thing that will get uploaded to YouTube is now being skilled on regardless of copyright legal guidelines.”
IGN has requested Epic for remark.
For a greater take a look at what Veo 3 is able to outdoors of video video games, this is a clip of the algorithm making a pretend information report on an car commerce present that does not exist, with pretend interviewees answering pretend questions.
Earlier than you ask: sure, every little thing is AI right here. The video and sound each coming from a single textual content immediate utilizing #Veo3 by @GoogleDeepMind .Whoever is cooking the mannequin, let him cook dinner! Congrats @Totemko and the staff for the Google I/O stay stream and the new Veo web site! pic.twitter.com/sxZuvFU49s
— László Gaál (@laszlogaal_) May 21, 2025
Microsoft has been all for creating its personal AI-generated footage of video video games, and not too long ago unveiled the early outcomes of its Muse program, which it mentioned it had skilled on numerous hours of Xbox shooter Bleeding Edge. Xbox boss Phil Spencer prompt Muse could possibly be used to assist ideate sport ideas in the future, and even someway help in sport preservation.
However Muse’s reveal, shortly adopted by the reveal of extra pretend gameplay footage generated by Muse of the basic shooter Quake 2, has prompted additional debate — and raised questions over whether or not the software would take away work or substitute human creativity from present workers.
Fortnite isn’t any stranger to AI itself, in fact. Final week, the sport added the capacity to chat with Star Wars’ Darth Vader, who will reply utilizing generative AI skilled on the voice of the late James Earl Jones. Jones’ voice is formally licensed (and was beforehand used to create dialogue for Disney’s personal Obi Wan Kenobi TV sequence) and sanctioned by each the late actor and his household, however the addition nonetheless prompted swift condemnation and an unfair labor follow cost from performing union SAG-AFTRA.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You’ll be able to attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social