Fortnite creators will be able to publish experiences with 36 large-language-model-powered characters starting July 30, with voices built from professional actor performances.

Epic Games will let Fortnite creators publish experiences featuring large-language-model (LLM) powered characters with AI-generated voices starting July 30th, the company announced [1].

For developers building on Fortnite’s creator platform, the practical upshot is access to 36 pre-built characters — each with what Epic calls “consistent voices and personas” — that can be dropped into custom islands as non-player characters (NPCs) [1]. The roster includes established Fortnite figures such as Agent Jonesy, Peely, Fishstick, and Cuddle Team Leader [1].

Where the voices come from

The voices are not synthesized from celebrity talent. According to Epic, they are built from “performances captured from independent professional actors specifically for use in developer-made islands” [1]. The company says those actors “agreed to have their performances used to develop voice models that create the spoken responses for these LLM-powered Fortnite characters” [1].

Epic has been moving toward AI-driven characters for roughly a year. The company tested the concept with a Darth Vader NPC powered by the late James Earl Jones’ voice — an arrangement approved by Jones’ estate — though players quickly found ways to make the character swear before Epic patched the behavior [1].

What comes next for creators

Epic opened AI character testing to creators earlier this year and established ground rules aimed at preventing misuse [1]. The July 30th launch extends that capability to published, public experiences.

Celebrity voices from Fortnite’s existing roster of well-known actors are not yet available. Epic says its “next step is 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” [1].

Sources

  1. The Verge — Fortnite is getting a bunch of AI-powered ‘personas’

This article was drafted with AI from the cited sources and checked against them before publication. Spot an error? Let us know.