For better or worse, Fortnite The creators will be allowed to create NPCs that abandon scripts and freestyle. A new tool in Fortnite (UEFN)’s Unreal Editor will enable developers to create their own generated AI-driven NPCs. Their voice types, delivery methods and personality traits are all customizable.
Epic demonstrated the technology in Tuesday's “Unreal” keynote. The company said NPC responded in real time during the speech. It is created using “about 20 lines” of timely text.
The demo character Mr. Button was created just to convince the player to press a big red button in the room. The AI robot persists after the host asks for a sign in the environment warning not to press the button. “Sign, you say? It's just the advice of those who lack imagination. After all, the rules are gently put aside. Do you disagree?”
Impressively, the demonstration also shows the current limitations of the technology. First, it's a turn-around AI chat, not live chat, with interruptions and overlaps. Additionally, the presenter can only speak when holding the button to activate the microphone. After each question, Mr. Button would pause for a moment. It tries to mask this with vocal fillers like “hmm”, “ahhhhh” and “ummm”.
The technology builds on the appearance of Darth Vader last month Fortnite: Galaxy. Gemini 2.0 Flash produces Sith Lord's conversations, which sound like James Earl Jones uses Elevenlabs AI Tech. (His property is approved.)
How did it go? Well, the viral rate of Ai Vader is…probably not the reason Epic hopes for. On the bright side, it hasn't completely transformed into the offensive level of AI Seinfeld. But an extensive video shows that Darth dropped the bomb. In response to the streamer, using the “freak” and “fuck” prompts, Vader repeated the words. (Ironically, he then scolds the player for using harsh language.) The epic pushes a hot five times and promises that it won't happen again.
Fortnite Creators will be able to make NPCs in the UEFN editor later this year. You can view Mr. Buttons' demo below.
