Darth Vader AI In “Fortnite” Causes A Ruckus

While chatter about “Fortnite” still being blocked on iOS systems made some headlines the past few days, it has been drowned out by Epic Games’ own update to the live-service title overnight and it’s all to do with its new Darth Vader AI. The game added a Darth Vader NPC that can speak with players […] The post Darth Vader AI In “Fortnite” Causes A Ruckus appeared first on Dark Horizons.

May 17, 2025 - 06:50

Darth Vader AI In “Fortnite” Causes A Ruckus

While chatter about “Fortnite” still being blocked on iOS systems made some headlines the past few days, it has been drowned out by Epic Games’ own update to the live-service title overnight and it’s all to do with its new Darth Vader AI.

The game added a Darth Vader NPC that can speak with players using “conversational AI”. This Vader generates responses to voice and text chat from nearby Fortnite players using Google’s Gemini AI.

He responds via an AI recreation of James Earl Jones’ voice. There’s no issue on the permission front here, the company says the AI was built with permission and collaboration from the Jones family.

The family themselves are quoted in an official statement about the Vader AI: “James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it. We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character.”

What’s causing the ruckus instead has been the AI’s performance in the field. The Vader addition launched at 7am US-ET, and within 90 minutes a clip was circulating on social media of one player managing to make the AI Vader say the F-word. Less than an hour later, another user video has the Vader saying the other F-word (homophobic slur).

The AI isn’t allowed to discuss certain topics including V-Bucks, naughty language, harm of younglings, and more than two lines from non-Disney/Star Wars media.

However, a post at PerformerLaw has allegedly catalogued the unfortunate Vader AI actions within its first day which include threats, talking about Chun-Li’s backside, making slurs against non-English languages and pride month, and even “eliminated players on the same side as him for calling him daddy”.

Epic has already stated that they have pushed a hotfix immediately in regards to the swearing and it “shouldn’t happen again”.

For parents whose young kid play “Fortnite,” you can disable the new “allow written and voice communication with AI features” in Fortnite’s Parental Controls menu – that prevents speaking to or hearing the AI Darth Vader completely.

Darth Vader Saying "Skibidi Toilets" @Fortnite pic.twitter.com/sQZegVx4Vp
— ZozolFN (@Zozol_5) May 16, 2025

Source: PC Gamer, Windows Central

The post Darth Vader AI In “Fortnite” Causes A Ruckus appeared first on Dark Horizons.