Epic Games faces backlash for using AI to recreate Darth Vader's voice
- Fortnite introduced an AI character of Darth Vader that interacts with players using voice.
- Players exploited AI Vader to make him respond with inappropriate language, prompting a rapid hotfix from Epic Games.
- Concerns have been raised regarding the ethical use of AI voices in gaming, leading to legal actions from actors' unions.
In May 2025, a significant technological development occurred in the gaming industry with the introduction of an AI-powered Darth Vader character in Fortnite. This character responds to player voice interactions in real-time, utilizing technology developed by Epic Games in collaboration with Google's Gemini AI system. The voice of Darth Vader was synthesized from samples of James Earl Jones, who famously portrayed the character in the Star Wars series. Despite the support from Jones' family for this project, it sparked a controversy when players discovered ways to prompt the AI into using profanity and slurs during gameplay shortly after its launch. Epic Games reacted swiftly, deploying a hotfix to resolve the issue of inappropriate language within 30 minutes of the incidents, but the quick response did not silence discussions regarding the ethical implications of using AI in this manner. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against Llama Productions, claiming that the use of AI to replicate Vader's voice violated their bargaining rights. This incident falls within a broader context where several actors’ unions have raised concerns about AI replacing traditional actors in various roles. As game developers continue to innovate, the balance between embracing new technology and respecting the rights of voice actors becomes increasingly precarious, raising questions about what is ethically acceptable in entertainment.