Summary:
Epic Games and Disney have launched an AI-powered Darth Vader in Fortnite, allowing players to interact with the character through voice chat. The innovation uses advanced AI models but is already facing challenges as users find ways to exploit the feature.
Fortnite Introduces Interactive AI Darth Vader
Epic Games has taken a bold step into the future of gaming by introducing a voice-interactive Darth Vader in Fortnite. Developed in collaboration with Disney, the iconic Star Wars character can now engage with players in real time using advanced artificial intelligence.
Players can use their microphones to talk directly to Darth Vader, who responds with strategic suggestions and character-appropriate dialogue. The new feature became available to players on May 16, 2025.
Cutting-Edge AI Behind the Scenes
The AI capabilities that power Vader’s voice responses rely on Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model, which generates real-time answers based on player input. For the voice, Epic Games worked with ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5, which recreated the iconic voice of the late James Earl Jones, maintaining the legacy of the character.
Jones’ family issued a statement supporting the collaboration, noting that the legendary actor always wanted his portrayal of Vader to live on for both longtime fans and newer audiences.
Privacy Measures and AI Limitations
Epic Games has clarified that all player audio and transcriptions are not stored and are used only to generate immediate AI responses. Furthermore, these interactions are not used to train future AI models, reinforcing the company’s commitment to privacy and responsible AI usage.
To protect young players, Fortnite requires parental consent for users under 13 or those below the age of digital consent in their region before they can speak with Darth Vader in-game.
Early Misuse: Players Trigger Inappropriate Language
Despite built-in safeguards, some users have already found loopholes in the AI’s programming. Streamers and social media users quickly began experimenting, managing to prompt the character to repeat profanity and slurs.
Popular Australian streamer Kathleen Belsten (known as Loserfruit) shared a video demonstrating how she was able to get Vader to say an expletive. Another user on platform X, under the handle @GasSpares, succeeded in making the AI repeat offensive terms.
In response, Epic Games issued a hotfix designed to block the character from using inappropriate language, and the platform has encouraged users to report any further violations through in-game tools.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
As gaming companies push the boundaries of immersive AI experiences, they face the ongoing challenge of moderating user behavior. While the interactive Darth Vader marks a significant leap in voice-based gaming, its early misuse highlights the importance of continuous oversight and quick response mechanisms.
Source: Fox News
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