Epic Games is expanding its use of artificial intelligence in Fortnite by introducing AI-powered voices for 36 existing characters in the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
The feature, which launches for creators on July 30, gives developers access to consistent voices and personalities for popular characters such as Agent Jones and The Imagined, allowing them to build more interactive NPCs in custom islands.
According to the Epic Games Fortnite Blog, the new voice system is powered by Google’s Gemini AI and is based on performances recorded by independent professional actors who agreed to have their voices used for AI voice models.
Epic explains how the AI voice system works
Epic says the new AI voices are designed specifically for UEFN’s conversation system, enabling creators to build characters that can speak naturally, respond to players, remember events during a game session, and even trigger gameplay actions.
In its announcement, Epic stated,
“The actors agreed to have their performances used to develop voice models that create the spoken responses for these LLM-powered Fortnite characters.”
The company also added that it plans to
“work with the relevant guilds and character voice actors who have previously worked on Fortnite Battle Royale to explore opportunities to make their original voices available across the Fortnite ecosystem.”
The conversation feature was first introduced as an Experimental tool earlier this year, preventing creators from publishing projects that used it. That restriction will be lifted on July 30, allowing AI-powered NPCs to appear in publicly available UEFN experiences.
AI expansion raises new concerns
Epic’s latest move follows its earlier rollout of AI-powered conversations, including the high-profile AI version of Darth Vader added through its collaboration with Disney. While the feature showcased the potential of conversational NPCs, players quickly discovered ways to manipulate the AI into generating inappropriate responses before Epic patched the issue.
The introduction of AI-generated voices also comes as the gaming industry continues debating the impact of generative AI on voice acting. Although Epic emphasizes that the current models are built using performances from consenting actors, the broader adoption of AI voice technology has renewed concerns about future opportunities for professional voice talent across the industry.
