Fortnite 41.20 adds Sidekick tools, LLM voices, and UMG widgets

Epic’s Fortnite 41.20 ecosystem update, published on July 16, 2026, adds the first wave of Control Rigs for Sidekicks in UEFN, plus in-world UMG Widgets and consistent voices/personas for 36 Fortnite characters in LLM conversations. The update also includes new gameplay content such as the Bank Shot Pistol, Smoke Grenade, Friend Zone item, and Sinister Strip prefabs and galleries. Epic documentation lists the changes in the release notes.

What creators can do now

According to Epic, the new Sidekick control rigs are built on the same rig structures used internally at Epic, letting creators animate Sidekicks with the same workflows used for the game itself. Epic says the first supported archetypes are Dog Large, Dog Small, and Cat Small. The release notes also say creators can publish islands featuring Sidekicks and Creatures-themed assets starting July 23, 2026.

• Release date: July 16, 2026
• Publishing start for Sidekicks and Creatures assets: July 23, 2026
• LLM conversations: 36 Fortnite characters
• New UEFN features: Sidekick rigs and in-world UMG widgets

Why it matters for UEFN

This is a notable step for UEFN creators because it moves Sidekicks from a simple companion concept into a more animation-ready workflow, while the widget and conversation updates widen what creators can build in-island. Epic’s documentation frames the update as part of Fortnite’s broader ecosystem tooling rather than a standalone content drop. Source.