Fortnite Characters Get a Voice Upgrade with AI Technology from Epic Games

Epic Games, the developer behind the immensely popular game Fortnite, has revealed that it has introduced “consistent voices and personas” for 36 existing Fortnite characters, including Agent Jones and The Imagined. These voices will be utilized in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), enabling creators to incorporate these characters and their unique voices into their islands.

According to further details shared by Epic, these new voice performances are powered by Google’s Gemini AI, with recordings made by independent professional actors specifically for use in player-created islands. A sample of these performances is available for listening.

“The actors consented to have their performances used to develop voice models that generate spoken responses for these LLM-powered Fortnite characters,” Epic stated in a blog post. “Our next step is to collaborate with the relevant guilds and character voice actors who have previously contributed to Fortnite Battle Royale to explore opportunities for integrating their original voices throughout the Fortnite ecosystem.”

The shift towards AI voices for Fortnite characters was first announced by Epic in April as part of a new conversation system, which allows creators to design AI-driven characters that can engage in dialogue and respond to player actions. For instance, if a player greets a character with “hello,” the character will reply appropriately. Additionally, these characters can remember events from the game session, allowing them to adapt their behavior and trigger in-game events.

Previously, conversations were part of an Experimental feature, meaning creators could use it to build islands but couldn’t publish their projects. However, starting July 30, the conversation system will move out of the Experimental phase, enabling players to publish their islands featuring LLM-powered NPCs and characters.

Fortnite’s journey with AI has had its challenges, notably when Disney permitted Epic to introduce AI Darth Vader into Fortnite lobbies. As expected, players quickly found ways to manipulate the Sith Lord into uttering inappropriate phrases. Although this was addressed with a patch, the incident highlighted the potential for AI exploitation.

The move to replace traditional voice acting with LLM technology poses significant concerns for actors in the industry. If Epic, one of the most influential developers in gaming, is adopting AI, it raises questions about what might happen with smaller studios that may not have the same resources or reputation.