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Fortnite is getting a bunch of AI-powered ‘personas’
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- DeepHorus
Fortnite is set to introduce a wave of AI-powered ‘personas’ on July 30th, as developer Epic Games allows creators to publish experiences featuring characters with AI-driven voices. The company has developed 36 characters with consistent voices and personas, including popular figures like Agent Jonesy, Peely, Fishstick, and Cuddle Team Leader, which creators can use as non-player characters (NPCs) in their custom islands. This move marks a significant expansion of AI integration into the Fortnite ecosystem, leveraging large language models to generate spoken responses.
The initiative builds on Epic’s earlier experiment with a Darth Vader NPC last year, which used James Earl Jones’ AI-generated voice—approved by the actor’s estate. Despite a brief glitch where players got Vader to swear, quickly patched by Epic, the company announced shortly after that creators would eventually gain the ability to make their own AI characters. Now, with the new persona system, Epic is scaling up the concept for broader creative use.
The voices for these 36 personas are based on “performances captured from independent professional actors specifically for use in developer-made islands,” Epic stated. The actors agreed to have their performances used to develop voice models that create spoken responses for these LLM-powered Fortnite characters. This approach aims to provide high-quality, consistent voices while ensuring ethical use of actor likenesses.
Fortnite content creator Shiina posted a video showcasing some of the new voices, giving the community a preview of what to expect. The feedback from early testers has been mixed, with some praising the innovation and others expressing concerns about potential misuse of AI voices. Epic has implemented ground rules to prevent problematic behavior, though details were not fully disclosed.
Looking ahead, Epic plans to work with guilds and voice actors who have previously contributed to Fortnite Battle Royale to explore opportunities for making their original voices available across the ecosystem. This could lead to AI-powered versions of iconic characters voiced by well-known actors, pending appropriate approvals. The company aims to strike a balance between creative freedom and ethical responsibility.
The introduction of AI personas represents a pivotal moment for user-generated content in Fortnite, potentially transforming how players interact with NPCs in custom experiences. While the technology offers new creative possibilities, it also raises questions about voice rights and content moderation. Epic’s careful approach—starting with independent actors and seeking guild collaborations—suggests a deliberate strategy to navigate these challenges as AI becomes more integral to gaming.
