Epic Games makes AI character creation tool available to Fortnite developers

Epic Games has opened experimental access to Fortnite creators to a tool called Conversations, which allows map creators to build NPCs with artificial intelligence capable of engaging in live, unscripted conversations with players. According to the company, the tool fundamentally changes the approach to character creation: instead of unwieldy dialogue trees, a developer simply describes through a prompt who the character is, what they know, and how they behave. From there, the AI takes over.

Epic cites examples such as storytellers, quest-givers, and any other NPCs that players can interact with in free-form conversation. Experimentation with AI characters in Fortnite did not begin today. Last year, Epic partnered with Lucasfilm to add an AI version of Darth Vader to the game with a voice recreated based on recordings by James Earl Jones.

An incident where the character produced profanity during a live stream demonstrated that uncontrolled AI dialogue carries real risks. The new tool is being created with these lessons in mind. Safety restrictions in Conversations are quite strict.

Epic explicitly prohibits using the tool for flirtation, romantic relationships, or any sexual content. Characters must not harm players' mental health or push them toward dangerous actions. All restrictions are detailed in a separate safety usage guide.

For now, the tool operates in experimental mode, meaning Epic reserves the right to change or disable the feature at any time. Access is open to creators working in Unreal Editor for Fortnite. The launch of Conversations reflects the broader gaming industry bet on generative AI as a way to reduce narrative production costs while simultaneously making game worlds feel more alive.

If the experiment in Fortnite proves successful, similar tools could become the standard for user-created maps across the platform.