AI Darth Vader Was the Beginning: Epic Reveals Plans to Let People Create Their Own AI NPCs in Fortnite

Following the merchandise of AI Darth Vader into Fortnite, Epic has announced plans to fto radical make their ain AI NPCs successful the all-encompassing conflict royale.

AI Darth Vader deed Fortnite past month. He tin serenade you, articulation and permission squads astatine will, respond intelligently to the player, contented impromptu dialogue, summarize gameplay events, and pass the subordinate if something's astir to spell down.

Darth Vader is voiced by the inimitable James Earl Jones, who died successful September 2024 astatine the property of 93. This AI mentation of his voice, powered by Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash exemplary and ElevenLabs' Flash v2.5, is utilized with the Jones family's permission.

AI Darth Vader was conscionable the beginning. Image credit: Epic Games.

Within an hr of the diagnostic going live, Fortnite players manipulated Vader into saying the benignant of things precise overmuch associated with the Dark Side, including swearing. Epic soon patched it out.

AI Darth Vader, it seems, was conscionable the beginning. During State of Unreal 2025, Epic unveiled plans to merchandise caller tools for creators to physique their ain AI-powered NPCs successful Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). As demonstrated on-stage, creators volition beryllium capable to usage the caller Persona Device to make characters with personalities that players tin speech to. You tin prime the benignant of dependable and transportation you privation for your NPC, arsenic good arsenic their characteristics.

“We’re taking what we learned from Darth Vader and sharing the underlying exertion with the creator community,” Epic said.

Meanwhile, well-known IP is coming to UEFN, including Squid Game connected June 27, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and authoritative Star Wars features, templates, and assets. Lego brick-by-brick gathering is besides coming to UEFN connected June 17, arsenic good arsenic the caller LEGO Bloom Tycoon template.

Elsewhere astatine State of Unreal 2025, Epic and CD Projekt revealed a stunning The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].