Darth Vader’s Return to Fortnite: The AI Feature and Its Fallout
Epic Games made headlines on Friday with the announcement of Darth Vader’s return to Fortnite as an in-game boss. This iteration of Vader allows players to interact with him using conversational AI, enabling fans to pose questions related to the Force, the Galactic Empire, or strategies for the game.
Unexpected Reactions and Controversies
Shortly after Darth Vader’s introduction, players began sharing clips that showcased him offering unexpected comments. For instance, streamer Loserfruit asked, “What freaking fucking food is that Darth Vader? Tell me.” Vader retorted, “Freaking? Fucking? Such vulgarity does not become you.” This prompted Epic Games to quickly implement a hotfix within thirty minutes to address the matter, as confirmed by a company spokesperson.
In a separate interaction, when discussing romantic interests, Vader humorously referenced “armored chestplates” in response to a query about breasts. Such exchanges, while entertaining for players, raised eyebrows regarding the AI’s oversight.
The Technology Behind the AI
This AI-driven interaction leverages Google’s Gemini 2.0 and ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 voice technology, designed to emulate the voice of the late James Earl Jones, the actor known for portraying Darth Vader. While Epic Games employed safety measures and additional filters to mitigate inappropriate responses, instances of AI failure emerged, as noted by McCormack, who stated that their filters did not catch a specific variation of profanity.
Safety Measures and Player Reporting
Epic has set up community guidelines that allow players to report Darth Vader for inappropriate remarks. Measures are in place to prevent the character from responding to continued inappropriate inquiries, with the consequence of leaving the player’s squad for the session. “These safety settings have been rigorously tested by Epic employees and external experts,” McCormack explained.
Community Response and Broader Implications
Despite the rapid controversy, many players seemed unfazed. The tendency for players to exploit the AI for humor or shock value underscores a prevalent concern regarding the implementation of generative AI in gaming environments. Some interactions included dismissive comments about languages or prompts for dubious “tier lists” on colors, which the AI handled poorly, revealing the complexity of context that AI struggles to navigate.
Ongoing Epic Games and Apple Disputes
In addition to the controversial AI interactions, Epic Games announced that they were blocked from releasing Fortnite on the US App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union due to ongoing disputes with Apple. This follows a pattern of friction over in-app purchase policies and commissions.
Conclusion
As Epic Games highlighted, “This will be a day long remembered.” However, it remains uncertain whether this will be for the ambitious AI feature or the backlash it incited. As Fortnite continues to evolve, the intertwining of technology and player interactions showcases both potential and pitfalls.