Epic lets Fortnite creators test AI characters players can talk to

In short: Epic Games is letting Fortnite creators experiment with a new tool that makes in-game characters talk with players using AI.

What happened

Epic Games announced an “experimental” Conversations tool for Fortnite creators. It lets creators build non-player characters, or NPCs (computer-controlled characters), that can hold unscripted conversations with players.

Normally, creators have to write branching dialogue in advance, like a choose-your-own-adventure book. With this tool, a creator can describe a character using short written instructions, like who they are, what they know, and how they should act. The character can then respond in the moment, more like talking to a person than clicking through set lines.

Epic also updated its rules to limit what these AI characters can do. Creators are not allowed to design characters that give medical or mental health guidance. They also cannot create characters meant to act as a date, romantic partner, or other intimate companion. Epic says creators must not try to get around its safety systems.

For now, players will not widely see these creator-made AI characters. The tool is labeled experimental, and Epic says creators cannot publish islands featuring it until the feature reaches beta. Epic spokesperson Jake Jones declined to share a timeline.

Epic says the tool uses Google’s Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite models to handle audio and generate text replies, and ElevenLabs to turn those replies into a spoken voice.

Why it matters

Fortnite is increasingly a place where people play many creator-made experiences, not just the main game. If AI characters work well, creators could make worlds that feel more alive, like having a flexible tour guide instead of a pre-recorded script. The new rules show Epic is also trying to prevent predictable problems, like harmful advice or overly personal relationships with a game character.

Source: The Verge AI