Fortnite’s AI-Driven Darth Vader Faces Backlash Over Inappropriate Dialogue: Epic Games Responds Quickly

In the wake of Fortnite’s latest Star Wars season update, Epic Games has found itself under scrutiny following the introduction of a Darth Vader non-playable character (NPC) powered by generative AI.

Designed to interact with players using the iconic voice of James Earl Jones—thanks to technology from Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model and ElevenLabs' Flash v2.5 model—the addition quickly became controversial on platforms like Nintendo Switch and beyond.

On May 16, 2025, PC Gamer and Kotaku reported that players had manipulated the AI-driven Darth Vader to use profanity and slurs within the game.

Clips circulating on social media captured incidents where the NPC would repeat offensive language in response to player prompts.

Particularly troubling was a widely shared video in which Vader, guided by users, delivered homophobic remarks.

In response to these incidents, Epic Games acted swiftly.

A spokesperson for Epic confirmed to Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach, “We pushed a hot fix within 30 minutes of this happening in-game, so this shouldn’t happen again.” The official Fortnite account also acknowledged the situation, clarifying that the controversial responses stemmed from specific user prompts, and it confirmed that a hotfix was deployed to address the issue.

However, as the AI chatbot feature remains live in the game, concerns persist about oversight and content moderation.

The AI-powered Darth Vader NPC is available across all major platforms—including the Nintendo Switch and via the eShop—and only players over the age of 13 can engage in voice interactions unless parental consent is provided.

Epic Games has assured users that they are not using player interactions to train AI models, stating, “Your voice audio and transcriptions of it are not stored,” and that all conversations are securely processed through Google Gemini.

Securing the authentic voice of Darth Vader was made possible because in 2022, James Earl Jones granted permission for his voice to be used in digital reproductions.

The Jones family released a statement on the Epic Games website, expressing, “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 controversy has reignited ongoing industry debates over the role of artificial intelligence in gaming, voice acting, and player safety on platforms like Fortnite.

While Epic’s rapid response demonstrates a commitment to responsible content management, the incident highlights challenges posed by dynamic AI-driven features, especially in games played heavily by younger audiences.

As Fortnite continues to evolve on Nintendo Switch and other major platforms, the gaming community will remain vigilant about the implications of AI in creating safe, engaging experiences.

Fortnite Epic Games AI Star Wars James Earl Jones ElevenLabs Google Gemini Nintendo Switch Kotaku PC Gamer Disney