Fortnite developers can make AI characters now — just don’t try to date them
Epic Games is introducing an experimental AI-powered conversation tool for Fortnite creators, enabling developers to build NPCs with unscripted dialogue using Google's Gemini and ElevenLabs voice technology. This represents Epic's broader strategic push to transform Fortnite into a creator-driven platform ecosystem, though the company has implemented strict content guardrails prohibiting romantic, medical, or mental health interactions following past AI safety issues. The move comes as Epic navigates platform engagement challenges that led to significant workforce reductions in 2025.
The Verge2 min read
Following last year's AI-powered Darth Vader in Fortnite that swore in a re-creation of James Earl Jones' voice, Epic Games is now letting Fortnite creators experiment with a new "conversations" tool to create AI-powered characters that players can talk and interact with. "Instead of authoring dialogue trees for characters in your islands, conversations transforms an NPC into an AI-powered character capable of unscripted dialogue and interactions with players, like a quest giver or narrator," Epic says. "You define who the character is with simple prompts-how they think, what they know, and how they behave-and then select a voice that match … Read the full story at The Verge.