Epic Games Implements AI Darth Vader Voice in Fortnite Using Google Gemini and ElevenLabs

Epic Games Introduces AI Darth Vader Voice in Fortnite Leveraging Google Gemini and ElevenLabs Epic Games has taken another significant step in immersive player interactions by introducing an AI-powered Darth Vader chatbot in Fortnite, one of the industry’s most popular battle royale games.

This launch marks a collaborative use of artificial intelligence to blend beloved pop culture icons with gaming experiences, offering players new ways to engage both socially and strategically within the Fortnite ecosystem. As part of this innovation, Epic Games received explicit consent from James Earl Jones and his family to digitally recreate Jones' iconic Darth Vader voice using advanced AI.

According to the statement provided by the family, "James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it.

We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character." The AI Vader chatbot, launched on the Fortnite platform earlier today, utilizes Google’s Gemini 2.0 model for generating responses and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model to synthesize the audio, bringing a striking degree of authenticity to players' interactions.

Designed as a feature for in-game strategizing, the chatbot instantly became a viral topic after users prompted it into using profanity—a moment quickly documented and shared online by Twitch streamer Loserfruit.

In response to the incident, Epic Games acted promptly, pushing out a hotfix within 30 minutes to ensure that similar occurrences would not happen in the future. Epic Games clarified in an official statement to Kotaku, "We pushed a hot fix within 30 minutes of this happening in-game, so this shouldn’t happen again." The company emphasized the safety features built for younger audiences: users under age 13 are not permitted to interact with the Vader bot, and any reports of inappropriate responses are taken seriously for immediate corrective action. The implementation of AI-powered personas like Darth Vader in Fortnite demonstrates Epic Games’ ongoing investment in next-generation engagement tools, taking into account both technological advancements and ethical consent.

Fortnite continues to expand its creative boundaries, leveraging partnerships and emerging tech to offer fans both nostalgic and innovative experiences.

As the feature evolves, Epic Games remains committed to refining AI interactions, ensuring the integrity of iconic characters while bringing new depths to player engagement on platforms like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Fortnite Epic Games AI James Earl Jones ElevenLabs Google Gemini Twitch Loserfruit Kotaku