Players still remember the shock of hearing Darth Vader’s iconic voice answering back in Fortnite.
Epic is now opening the door for anyone to build their own AI-driven characters in Fortnite, although the company warns that the process is trickier than it looks.
Vader wasn’t just a voice clone — Epic’s engineers spent serious hours tuning every aspect of how he responded, and that work’s intensity paid off with a character that seemed straight out of the movies.
Even so, there were some wild moments, like when a popular streamer managed to get Vader to swear, prompting a quick fix.
Epic’s Saxs Persson says the team learned a lot from that episode and has since layered in extra checks to catch any inappropriate language or behavior.
They’re not just planning for problems, either — Epic built tools to allow instant responses if something slips by.
Now, the same toolbox that kept Vader in line will be available to everyone who wants to add smart characters to their Fortnite worlds.
At a recent Unreal Fest demo, Epic showcased Mr. Buttons, an AI that tried with hilarious persistence to convince players to press a giant red button.
Persson said the fun part was watching each player get a unique interaction, with Mr. Buttons adapting endlessly to their choices.
Epic’s never been one to spell out a precise roadmap for new features, and they’re keeping quiet on when more famous characters might appear as AI.
Building the Future of Interactive Storytelling
CEO Tim Sweeney insists the priority isn’t just showing off technology but keeping the game fun and surprising.
Persson added that AI characters are just another creative tool — not something designers must use, but a fresh way to immerse players.
He did hint that future Epic collaborations, like the much anticipated Disney universe, could use this AI approach to pull players deeper into the experience.
No calendar dates for this “persistent universe” are being shared yet, but the promise of Star Wars-themed possibilities has fans eager to create the next viral Vader.
With safety layers and flexible tools at their disposal, Fortnite creators are now set to shape a new kind of in-game storytelling innovation.
The learning curve may be steep, but if Epic’s success with AI Vader is any indication, the results could be thrilling and unexpected for everyone.
