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AI Darth Vader offers unique combat and voice interaction in Fortnite.
Players defeat Vader, then recruit him as an AI squad follower.
Conversational AI enriches immersion, setting new gaming interaction precedents.
Fortnite, the uncontested monarch of battle royales, has done it again. Taking its colorful island and turning it into an ever-changing canvas for narrative, the latest updates breathe life into well-known franchises and add leading-edge AI, turning the video game on its head.
Fortnite's new Star Wars crossover has introduced a special and interactive AI version of Darth Vader to the island, where players not only get to fight him but also have voice conversations with him. Here is how you can find the Sith Lord and talk to him:
Darth Vader's spawn point is not stable and can be different between each match. Nevertheless, he always spawns at one of three possible Imperial checkpoints on the map, identified by a parked Lambda-class shuttle. These are:
Vader Samurai's Solitude: Located in the southwest corner of the map.
Imperial Checkpoint (South): South of the tunnel at Canyon Crossing.
Imperial Checkpoint (East): Located just east of Foxy Floodgate, beyond the hill nearby.
Be on the lookout for his unique Darth Vader helmet symbol on your map, which will reveal his precise location in the active game.
You cannot have a conversation with the Dark Lord before you defeat him in battle. Darth Vader is a tough boss, and he has the assistance of a team of Stormtroopers. Prepare yourself for the battle, as he uses the Force and his legendary lightsaber.
After defeating Darth Vader, he will create a Force training portal. Talk to him and choose the line that reads "Learn Force Saber Throw and Force Jump while using a Lightsaber." This will affiliate you with the Dark Side and enlist him as a follower for your team.
Since Darth Vader is now a devoted member of your squad, you can now talk to him using Fortnite's Conversational AI. Here's how:
Proceed to the Settings menu of your game, either in-game or from the Lobby.
Head over to the Keyboard Controls (if on PC) or Controller Mapping (if on console) section.
Find the "Conversational AI" option.
Assign a specific key or button to this feature. By default, it's usually Y on a keyboard or the left D-pad on a controller.
Choose Apply in order to save your modifications.
After enabling the setting, just press the assigned key/button while your microphone is live in-game.
Say your questions or remarks, and Darth Vader will reply with conversational AI, voiced by the iconic James Earl Jones.
The AI Darth Vader will be programmed to communicate with players, making special remarks, combat suggestions, and even answering random questions regarding the Force or the Galactic Empire.
He will frequently call you by your character's name and can give strategic commentary during combat, like warning you of nearby POIs, player numbers, or storm proximity.
Note: This AI feature was developed by Epic Games in collaboration with Google Gemini and ElevenLabs. Although the AI is strong, there are some limitations:
Content Bans: The AI has been programmed to avoid talking about inappropriate things, such as addiction, gore, hate speech, illegal behavior, romantic or sexual language, and profanity. Although players originally found ways to get him to swear, Epic Games has since hotfixed it to keep this from happening.
Parental Controls: For players younger than 13 or the digital age of consent in their country, parental consent is needed to turn on voice and text communication with AI features. This can be controlled via the Parental Controls area of the Fortnite main menu or the Epic Account Portal.
Interacting with AI Darth Vader in Fortnite presents a new and engaging experience, where players can actually feel the presence of the Dark Lord in the game.
Fortnite's AI Darth Vader represents a huge step in interactive gaming by providing a new mix of combat and dialogue. This groundbreaking element, driven by Google Gemini and ElevenLabs technology, indicates the capability of AI to increase player immersion.
At the same time, it reflects on existing controversies surrounding AI use in creative fields, especially voice actor jobs and proper content creation, establishing a future precedent for AI inclusion in games.
