AI Darth Vader in Fortnite Prompts Debate, Hotfixes

Epic Games has launched an AI-powered Darth Vader in Fortnite, using a digital recreation of James Earl Jones' voice with the approval of his estate and technology from Google Gemini and ElevenLabs. The feature enables real-time conversations with Vader, ranging from Star Wars lore to game strategy. Players quickly found ways to prompt the AI to swear and repeat slurs, leading to viral clips and extensive criticism over brand safety and moderation failures. In response, Epic Games issued rapid hotfixes and implemented multiple layers of safety filters, though some inappropriate responses persisted. The controversy has reignited debates on AI ethics, digital likeness rights, and the challenges of moderating generative AI. Despite technical and ethical concerns, the feature has seen widespread use and remains popular among players.