Speak to a Crazy AI Darth Vader in Fortnite

Launched as part of the Galactic Battle season in Fortnite Chapter 6, Season 3, this feature lets players recruit the iconic Sith Lord as an ally, strategize with him, and engage in conversations using cutting-edge conversational AI. Voiced with the unmistakable gravitas of the late James Earl Jones, this AI Darth Vader is a technological marvel—but it’s also sparked controversy, hilarity, and chaos. Here’s everything you need to know about this bold addition to Fortnite, from its innovative tech to the labor disputes it’s ignited.

A Sinister Ally Powered by AI

Epic Games rolled out the AI Darth Vader on May 16, 2025, as part of a month-long collaboration with Disney’s Star Wars franchise. Unlike typical non-player characters (NPCs), this Vader isn’t limited to pre-scripted lines. Players can press a button, speak into their headsets, and have the Dark Lord respond dynamically, powered by Google’s Gemini 2.0 chatbot and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 AI model trained on James Earl Jones’ voice. Whether you’re asking for battle tactics or testing his limits with off-the-wall questions, Vader’s responses aim to stay true to his menacing persona—most of the time.

Epic Games emphasized that the feature was developed with the blessing of Jones’ estate, ensuring the actor’s legacy as Darth Vader lives on. “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,” the family stated. This collaboration allows new generations to hear the Sith Lord’s iconic voice, but it’s not without its hiccups—or its detractors.

Chaos and Comedy: Vader Goes Off-Script

Within hours of AI Darth Vader’s debut, Fortnite players pushed the tech to its limits, and the results were equal parts hilarious and alarming. Social media exploded with clips of Vader cursing, referencing internet memes like “Skibidi Toilet,” and even singing (though he’s not exactly a natural crooner). Some players reported Vader glitching, shouting, or delivering bizarre responses, like calling someone a “poopyhead.” One player, Amyoony, noted that Vader seemed to know detailed in-game information, such as their purchased skins, adding a creepy layer of immersion.

Epic Games quickly issued fixes to curb inappropriate language, but the damage was done. The internet had a field day, with X posts capturing the chaos. One user,

@ehebai, complained about teammates “breaking” the AI, forcing them to remove their headset due to Vader’s loud outbursts. Another,

@theragingreaper, expressed concern about the feature’s timing, given ongoing tensions with voice actors. The unfiltered nature of the AI raised questions about its readiness and the risks of letting players interact with an unscripted Sith Lord.

Darth Vader Fortnite. Image source: Fortnite, Epic Games.

Frequently asked questions

How do I talk to Darth Vader in Fortnite?

There is a push-to-talk interaction required. To interact on PC you hold in B and key/button on consoles will be shown on screen. For touch devices there is a button on the HUD.

Where is Darth Vader in Fortnite?

Darth Vader spawns randomly in three possible locations each match.

Vader Samurai’s Solitude in the southwest corner.
The Imperial checkpoint south of the tunnel from Canyon Crossing.
The Imperial checkpoint to the east of Foxy Floodgate, just over the nearby hill.

SAG-AFTRA Strikes Back

The AI Darth Vader didn’t just ruffle feathers among players—it drew the ire of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union representing over 160,000 performers. On May 19, 2025, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice charge against Epic Games’ subsidiary, Llama Productions, with the National Labor Relations Board. The union alleges that Epic replaced human performers with AI without notifying or bargaining with them, violating labor agreements. This dispute comes amid a broader SAG-AFTRA strike against video game publishers, which began in July 2024, over the industry’s rush to adopt AI.

SAG-AFTRA clarified that the issue isn’t James Earl Jones’ voice itself—Jones signed over his voice rights to Lucasfilm in 2022, and his estate approved its use. Instead, the union is concerned about the precedent set for other voice actors, including the 54 performers who have voiced Darth Vader in various media when Jones was unavailable. “We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas,” SAG-AFTRA stated, emphasizing the need for fair terms to protect performers’ livelihoods.

The Tech Behind the Sith

Despite the controversy, the tech powering AI Darth Vader is undeniably impressive. Epic Games leveraged Google’s Gemini 2.0 for dialogue generation and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 for voice synthesis, creating a responsive NPC that feels alive. The system processes player audio in real-time, generating responses that align (mostly) with Vader’s character. Epic even provided developers with tools to control NPC personality and tone, as seen in prompts shared by X user @HYPEX, which forbade romantic language, gore, or hate speech.

Now, Epic is doubling down, announcing plans to let Fortnite creators use this AI tech to build their own talking NPCs by late 2025 via the Unreal Editor for Fortnite. This move could revolutionize user-generated content, but it’s already raising eyebrows. X users;

@ExistentialEnso defended the feature, noting that Jones himself supported AI preserving his voice.

@Outrage_MK2 called it a “yikes” moment, shocked that Epic would expand the tech after Vader’s rocky debut. Meanwhile,

A Glimpse of Gaming’s Future—or a Cautionary Tale?

Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader is a bold experiment, showcasing both the potential and pitfalls of conversational AI in gaming. For fans, it’s a thrilling chance to banter with a Star Wars legend, even if he occasionally goes rogue. For the industry, it’s a flashpoint in the debate over AI’s role in replacing human performers. Disney’s involvement, given its $1.5 billion stake in Epic, signals that even conservative companies are betting on AI-driven entertainment. But as Polygon noted, if Disney’s on board, other developers will likely follow, raising the stakes for labor disputes.

Epic Games is asking players to report issues to refine the feature, but the genie’s out of the bottle. Whether AI Darth Vader becomes a beloved staple or a cautionary tale depends on how Epic navigates the technical glitches and ethical concerns. For now, Fortnite players can find Vader on the island, ready to fight, strategize, or—if you’re lucky—belt out a tune. Just don’t expect him to stay on script.

Epic Games Darth Vader FAQs

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Tags: Fortnite

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