Fortnite is getting a bunch of AI-powered ‘personas’
Epic Games will allow Fortnite creators to publish experiences featuring AI-voiced characters from 30 July, expanding the use of conversational non-player characters in the game. The move matters because it gives creators access to 36 ready-made Fortnite personas while raising continuing questions about voice consent, safeguards and the behaviour of AI characters.
The available characters include Agent Jonesy, Peely, Fishstick and Cuddle Team Leader, with voices built from performances supplied by independent professional actors who agreed to their use in voice models. Epic previously tested an AI Darth Vader character using James Earl Jones’s voice with approval from his estate, but players quickly prompted it to swear before the company fixed the issue. Epic says it may later seek permission from relevant guilds and original voice actors to make familiar Fortnite Battle Royale voices available more widely.
In short
- Fortnite creators can use 36 AI-voiced characters from 30 July.
- Actors consented to performances being used for voice models.
- Epic plans safeguards after problems with AI Darth Vader.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Making approved AI-voiced personas available could help Fortnite creators build more interactive and varied experiences, while giving players new ways to engage with familiar characters. Using performances from actors who agreed to voice modelling offers a route to innovation that recognises consent and may create new opportunities for performers and creators.
The case against
Even with participating actors’ consent, AI personas raise questions about how voices are used, who controls them and whether performers are fairly credited and compensated over time. The Darth Vader test also showed that players can steer a character into inappropriate speech, so wider access may create moderation and reputational risks that safeguards need to address.
Explained simply
Fortnite is one of the world's most popular video games, with hundreds of millions of players. Beyond the main competition, Epic Games—the company behind Fortnite—allows players to become creators and design their own experiences within the game for others to enjoy.
Game developers increasingly use artificial intelligence to create non-player characters—computer-controlled figures that can have conversations with players and respond to what they say. These AI characters can make games more interactive and sophisticated, moving beyond simple pre-written responses to more human-like dialogue.
The rapid expansion of AI voices and characters raises questions about protecting actors' voices and identities, as well as ensuring that AI systems are adequately safeguarded against misuse. Earlier tests with AI-generated voices revealed that such characters can sometimes be exploited to behave inappropriately, highlighting concerns about the need for robust controls and ethical guidelines.
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