AI-Powered Game Development to Revolutionize Small Teams, Tim Sweeney Forecasts

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney predicts that small teams will soon leverage AI prompts to create video games rivaling the scope of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

In an interview with IGN at Epic’s State of Unreal 2025 event, where CD Projekt showcased a striking The Witcher 4 tech demo, Sweeney highlighted AI prompts as “a core component” of game engines, paving the way for “entirely new game genres that were previously unfeasible.”

“Every major technological leap has sparked new game types,” Sweeney noted.

“The dawn of 3D gaming brought us Doom and Wolfenstein, birthing the 3D shooter. Battle royale games only emerged when hardware and engines could support a hundred players in one space. Now, AI-driven characters with infinite dialogue possibilities and simple creator setups will empower small teams to craft vast, interactive worlds. Imagine a 10-person team building a game like Breath of the Wild, where AI handles all dialogue, and creators focus on character outlines. That’s within reach in the coming years.”

Sweeney’s passion for AI is well-known, and Epic Games is fully committed. An AI-powered Darth Vader joined Fortnite last month, marking a milestone for the battle royale. This character can sing, dynamically join or leave squads, respond thoughtfully to players, deliver spontaneous dialogue, recap gameplay, and alert players to upcoming threats.

Voiced by the legendary James Earl Jones, who passed away in September 2024 at 93, this AI voice, driven by Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5, was used with the Jones family’s approval.

This development ignited discussions about the ethics of generative AI, especially for NPCs like Darth Vader that recreate deceased actors’ voices. Sweeney, however, views AI as a net positive for society, despite some challenges.

“AI is a tool to amplify human creativity, enabling more efficient content creation,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that modern AI’s rise has been marred by companies misusing vast amounts of online content. But as a foundational technology, AI acts as a force multiplier for our capabilities.

“Empowering indie teams to build grander games also allows AAA studios to create massive, polished titles. As developers master these new tools, we’ll see a dramatic evolution in gaming. Like any transformative technology, AI’s overall impact will elevate opportunities for creators.”

Despite controversy over AI Darth Vader, Epic plans to enable players to design their own AI-driven NPCs in Fortnite.