Epic Games has reintroduced Darth Vader as an in-game boss in Fortnite, allowing players to engage with the iconic character through conversational AI. The announcement invited players to ask Vader compelling questions about the Force or strategize for the game’s challenges. However, players quickly found ways to manipulate the AI, resulting in unexpected and inappropriate responses.
Shortly after Vader’s debut, clips circulated showing the AI character using profanity and making inappropriate comments. For instance, streamer Loserfruit prompted Vader with a vulgar question about food, to which Vader replied with surprising vulgarity. Another instance involved Vader discussing romantic interests inappropriately, showcasing how players could trick the AI into breaking its programmed restrictions.
The AI is designed using Google Gemini 2.0 with voice modeling resembling James Earl Jones, aiming to provide an authentic experience while adhering to community standards. Despite Epic Games implementing safety measures to avoid inappropriate interactions, it didn’t prevent all slip-ups. A representative stated that the team implemented a hotfix shortly after the incidents were reported, highlighting a need for adjustments to the AI’s programming.
Epic claims its systems underwent rigorous testing to ensure they would catch harmful language. If players persist in attempting to elicit inappropriate dialogue from Vader, the AI will dissociate from their squad, effectively blocking further interaction. After the incidents, Epic is committed to reviewing player reports to make necessary modifications to the system.
While the Fortnite community’s eagerness to push boundaries isn’t surprising, the speed at which players could manipulate the AI raises concerns about generative AI’s readiness for mainstream platforms. Some of the AI’s responses were too nuanced for its programming to manage, such as dismissing Spanish as having minimal strategic value, showing the complexity of filtering inappropriate content.
In addition to the Vader controversy, Epic faced another challenge on the same day when Apple blocked their submission for Fortnite to be re-released on the US App Store, complicating the ongoing feud over in-app purchases. This added layer of drama coincided with the excitement surrounding Vader’s return, but perhaps not for the reasons the developers intended.
