Epic’s AI Darth Vader Technology Set to Sweep Through Fortnite

Man, okay, so here’s the deal. Epic Games, right? They decided to throw a big surprise at their State of Unreal 2025 event — something they call the “Persona Device.” I’m not even sure what I was expecting, but this took me off guard. I mean, it’s basically like giving players a magic wand for their NPCs in Fortnite. You get to play God a bit, I guess. You know, add voices, goals, and even personalities. Yeah, sounds kinda wild — maybe borderline overboard, but fascinating nonetheless.

Oh, and while we’re at it, Andrew Grant and his sidekick, Andrew Ruffini, who are big shots over at Epic, gave a little show-and-tell session. They whipped up this cheeky AI named Mr. Buttons. Picture a demanding assistant with an attitude. They actually used tech from AI Darth Vader — which, come on, you gotta admit is both scary and awesome. They then let creators tap into that tech. I got a kick out of that part.

So, Mr. Buttons was busy trying to make players press some button. Honestly, that whole interaction showed off just how many nuts and bolts go into making the AI express all sorts of emotions. I mean, it’s almost like chatting with a really insistent chatbot — but with feelings. Or at least more than my last date, haha.

Remember when they unleashed that AI Darth Vader back in May? They used James Earl Jones’ voice — or at least a version of it. This whole thing speaks to how intensely ambitious they’re getting. Did it go smoothly? Well, maybe not perfectly, but isn’t that half the thrill?

Now, with the Persona Device being launched, there’s no doubt players are gonna have a field day tweaking their virtual pals. Some might go overboard, others might invent the next genius AI dialogue. Who knows? Epic Games might find themselves riding another wave of excitement — or controversy. Not that they mind. Keeps things interesting, right?

If you missed it, there’s a livestream video you could check out, though I’ll admit, I usually have these on in the background while I, well, just exist.