US EditionAI Darth Vader Was the Beginning: Epic Reveals Plans to Let People Create Their Own AI NPCs in Fortnite
- At the State of Unreal 2025 on June 3, Epic Games revealed that creators will soon have the ability to develop AI-driven NPCs for Fortnite through a new tool called the Persona Device, available within Unreal Editor for Fortnite .
- This announcement follows Epic's earlier AI integration of an AI-voiced Darth Vader NPC, which sparked controversy and a lawsuit from SAG-AFTRA over union bargaining rights.
- The Persona Device demo highlighted live engagement with an AI character called Mr. Buttons and is slated to debut later in 2025, coinciding with the release of franchise content from Squid Game, Avatar, and Star Wars.
- Epic announced they are applying insights gained from the Darth Vader project to provide the creator community with access to the foundational technology, including AI voices with family permissions and new AI tool developments.
- The new AI tools are likely to expand Fortnite's creation ecosystem but may also renew debates over AI's role in game development and voice acting rights.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Fortnite to add even more AI NPCs following Darth Vader incident
Epic Games recently announced several AI-related updates for Fortnite. Creators still building in the 2017 multiplayer game will soon be able to populate their battle arenas with AI-driven NPCs. However, the integrated chatbots could quickly veer off-script, swearing at or insulting players, much like AI Darth Vader did just a...Read Entire Article
Fortnite's Going All-In On AI NPCs And It's Gross
In a functioning universe, the disastrous results of adding an AI-voiced Darth Vader to Fortnite would have led to the concept being torn up and abandoned. Unfortunately, we live in a dysfunctional universe, where rationality and sense have long been abandoned, and Epic is responding to the ethically objectionable…Read more...
Fortnite Star Wars Crossover Coincides with Lowest Player Count in Two Years
Despite a high-profile crossover with Star Wars, one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, Fortnite has just recorded its lowest average monthly player count in two years. The dip in numbers comes during what should have been a major engagement boost—an expansive Star Wars-themed season currently live in the game, complete with legacy characters, weekly updates, and a culminating live event set for June 7. The post Fortnite Star Wars…
Fortnite Will Add More AI NPCs Despite the Darth Vader Fiasco
Epic Games will soon roll out a major update to Fortnite AI NPCs. The company plans to increase the number of non-playable characters (NPCs) powered by artificial intelligence. This move will make Fortnite’s battle royale experience more dynamic and unpredictable. Epic shared these updates in its latest State of Unreal presentation. The studio showcased how advanced AI can reshape player interactions. They aim to blend AI characters into the bat…
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