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Epic Games to Let Fortnite Creators Publish AI-Voiced Characters Starting July 30
Epic Games will allow Fortnite creators to release experiences with AI-powered voices on July 30, 2026. The company prepared 36 pre-built characters with consistent voices and personas for use as NPCs. The move follows a 2025 Darth Vader test and early 2026 creator trials.
Jul 16, 5:31 PM·1m read1 source
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Epic Games will allow Fortnite creators to publish experiences featuring characters with AI-powered voices starting July 30, 2026. The company has prepared 36 characters with consistent voices and personas that creators can use as NPCs in their own islands. The characters include Agent Jonesy, Peely, Fishstick, and Cuddle Team Leader.
Their voices come from performances captured from independent professional actors specifically for developer-made islands. Epic Games tested the approach in 2025 with a Darth Vader NPC that used James Earl Jones’ voice. The actor’s estate approved the collaboration.
Players caused the character to swear, and Epic fixed the issue. After the Darth Vader debut, Epic announced that creators would be able to build their own AI-powered characters. The company began letting creators test their own AI characters earlier in 2026.
Epic said it plans next to work with relevant guilds and character voice actors who have previously worked on Fortnite Battle Royale to explore making their original voices available across the Fortnite ecosystem.
