Darth Vader’s Voice Lives On: AI Brings James Earl Jones to Fortnite

The iconic voice of Darth Vader, immortalized by the late James Earl Jones, is making a comeback in Fortnite, thanks to the power of generative AI. Disney and Epic Games have partnered to allow players to interact with Darth Vader in the game using an AI-recreated version of Jones's legendary voice, ensuring that his legacy continues to resonate with fans.

Starting today, Fortnite players can encounter Darth Vader in the game's ongoing Star Wars event and engage in real-time conversations with the Sith Lord. This innovative feature utilizes Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model to generate dialogue based on player input, while ElevenLabs’ Flash v2.5 model produces the audio itself. According to Epic Games, the audio recordings of player’s voices are sent directly to Gemini, Epic also state that they will not use the players interactions with Darth Vader to train AI models, respecting user privacy and ensuring responsible AI usage.

"James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it," said the family of James Earl Jones in a statement. This collaboration with Fortnite is seen as a way to honor his wish and introduce Darth Vader to new generations of fans.

Epic Games emphasizes that it has worked closely with Disney to develop this feature with a strong focus on transparency, consent, and safety. Measures are in place to protect both creators and players, including parental permission requirements for users under 13 (or the applicable digital consent age) and a reporting system for inappropriate character responses.

However, early tests revealed some challenges. Twitch streamer Loserfruit discovered the AI-voiced Darth Vader was able to say inappropriate things the companies wouldn't approve of, but has since been patched.

Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment, notes that “James Earl Jones’ legendary vocal performance is a defining element of what makes Darth Vader one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history.” This collaboration showcases how emerging technologies can be responsibly embraced, expanding storytelling while keeping people at the heart of the creative process.

The use of AI to recreate voices raises important questions about the future of entertainment and the preservation of artistic legacies. With proper consent and ethical considerations, it opens exciting possibilities for continuing iconic performances and connecting with audiences in new ways.

What do you think about this new use of AI? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

• Darth Vader
• Fortnite
• James Earl Jones

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