Epic Plans AI-Powered NPC Creation Tools for Fortnite Developers

Epic Games announced at the State of Unreal 2025 event that Fortnite creators will soon have the ability to build their own AI-powered non-player characters (NPCs) using new tools in the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). This new feature, called the Persona Device, allows customization of voice types, delivery styles, and personality traits, enabling two-way dialogue with players. The technology builds on the recent introduction of AI Darth Vader, voiced with AI technology mimicking James Earl Jones' voice, though that character initially experienced issues with inappropriate language prompting a hotfix. A demonstration featured an AI NPC named Mr. Buttons, who engaged players with persuasive dialogue, highlighting both the promise and current limitations of turn-taking AI conversation. The move has sparked debate around the ethics of AI voice acting, especially amid ongoing SAG-AFTRA union concerns over generative AI's impact on human voice actors. Epic emphasized that this technology aims to enhance player immersion and creativity by sharing the underlying AI tools with the creator community.