Fortnite Unveils Tool to Create Chatbot NPCs Powered by AI

Fortnite keeps evolving, and Epic Games just announced a major update that could change the way players experience the battle royale. A new tool will let users create their own AI-driven NPCs—characters that talk, think, and react using conversational voice chat.

If you took part in the recent Fortnite event featuring Darth Vader and other Star Wars characters, you might remember being able to ask Vader questions—and getting AI-generated answers in a voice uncannily close to the late James Earl Jones (1931–2024). As it turns out, that wasn’t a one-time feature. It was a sneak peek at a much bigger rollout.

Epic has now officially unveiled Persona Device, a feature within the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) that enables creators to build NPCs with unique personalities, selectable voices, and the ability to hold conversations with players.

"We’re giving creators the tools to drive not only NPC behavior and dialogue but also the core game itself, bringing new and dynamic player experiences to Fortnite", said Epic during its State of Unreal 2025 presentation.

AI joins the battle royale

As the name suggests, Persona Device allows users to create characters with distinct personalities who can speak to players using natural voice interaction. According to Epic, creators will be able to fine-tune details like voice type, tone, and expression. The feature is expected to be released later this year, but a live demo is already available.

Epic is also using AI to boost productivity for creators. A new beta tool assists users as they write Verse code for UEFN projects, offering suggestions, snippets, and guidance throughout the development process.

What do you think about this new tool coming to Fortnite? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Fortnite is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and mobile devices.