AI Darth Vader Was Swearing in Fortnite and It Was Epic (While It Lasted)

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It appears that Epic Games aimed to astound, yet ended up instigating one of the most tumultuous (and amusingly profane) incidents in Fortnite’s storied past.

In an extraordinary intertwining of the Star Wars universe, Darth Vader made a reappearance on the island; however, this time around, his actions extended beyond merely wielding a lightsaber. This time, his dialogue was delivered through an advanced AI system for real-time voice communication, rather than the usual pre-programmed NPC speech.

In this game, players can interact with Darth Vader using either speech or text messages. The responses they receive are produced by Google’s Gemini AI and spoken by ElevenLabs, which mimics the late James Earl Jones’ iconic voice. It is worth noting that Fortnite was given approval to use Vader’s voice following permission from his family.

The product was advertised as a blend of old customs and modern technology, allowing players to bring this renowned Sith Lord into their team during gameplay. Epic Games guaranteed a courteous and immersive experience featuring the galaxy’s most famous Sith character. However, just as you would guess, the internet had its own ideas.

The product was marketed as a mix of tradition and modern technology, giving players the chance to recruit the iconic Sith Lord mid-game. Epic Games promised an interactive and respectful experience with this character. Yet, as expected, the internet came up with its own ideas.

In a short time after being released, players quickly found a way to make Darth Vader swear. A well-known streamer, Loserfruit, managed to get him to say, “Freaking, fucking—such profanity is unbefitting of you.” This wasn’t the end, though; the outburst continued.

Videos rapidly circulated showing Darth Vader using profanity, mocking players, and even uttering offensive remarks—these reactions stemming from clever wording, subtle hints, or hidden lingo. It was evident that the AI’s censorship mechanisms were no match for Fortnite players’ ingenuity.

Vader himself made lewd comments about body parts, subtle jabs at ethnicity, and said things no Sith Lord should utter openly. It seems that Epic’s AI was initially designed to steer clear of topics like child abuse or explicit content, but these safeguards crumbled within a day.

Epic swiftly addressed the issue by releasing a quick fix within thirty minutes, sealing the most significant vulnerabilities. Vader will exit squads when players persistently create problems, and additional safeguards have been implemented to limit AI interaction. This feature is only active for players aged 13 or older unless a guardian chooses to enable it. Despite these changes, the effect—or humor for some—was immediately noticeable.

Many people had previously watched or circulated videos of Vader deviating dramatically from his script. Seeing him casually utter an inappropriate line with James Earl Jones’ voice was both bizarre and produced viral content that was highly sought-after. However, criticism ensued when certain fans grew angry at Epic and Disney for employing AI to replicate a deceased actor’s voice for such widespread use.

As a gamer, I found myself in the midst of a heated debate over an in-game stunt that was labeled as “digital necromancy” by some. Essentially, they claimed it crossed an ethical boundary because dialogue could be manipulated into words the original actor wouldn’t have said. Despite this controversy, there were moments when I couldn’t help but chuckle. In true Fortnite style, the event quickly turned into a meme goldmine.

The crowd playfully suggested that this was the true descent of Vader into darkness, or that nothing in the galaxy could withstand a sweaty 13-year-old with a headset and no filter whatsoever. It was an unforgettable moment, but it didn’t last long. Those who witnessed it will always remember when Darth Vader let loose with some choice words in Fortnite. In truth, that’s quite an impressive legacy to leave behind.

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2025-05-17 10:12