Darth Vader’s Voice Returns to Fortnite Using AI Technology

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2025 – The voice of the legendary Darth Vader will return to the video game Fortnite, thanks to a collaboration between The Walt Disney Company and Epic Games. This unique experience allows players to interact with the Sith Lord using a re-created voice of the late actor James Earl Jones, who passed away in 2024.

Starting today, players can recruit Darth Vader within the game and converse with him utilizing state-of-the-art generative AI technology. Epic Games revealed in a blog post that they have worked closely with Jones’ family to ensure this feature aligns with his legacy.

The dialogue spoken by Darth Vader will be generated by Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash model, while ElevenLabs will handle the audio production using their Flash v2.5 model. This advancement in gaming not only provides a way for players to engage with a beloved character but also highlights how AI is transforming the entertainment industry.

“James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he wanted fans to continue experiencing it,” the actor’s family expressed in a statement. They hope this collaboration allows both longtime fans and new generations to enjoy the iconic character.

While players chat with Vader, the game will securely process the audio of the player’s voice to generate responses. Importantly, the audio will not be stored for AI training purposes, ensuring players’ privacy.

“James Earl Jones’ legendary vocal performance is a defining element of what makes Darth Vader one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history,” said Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment. He emphasized that Disney, Lucasfilm, and Epic Games are committed to responsible uses of emerging technologies in storytelling.

Adam Sussman, president of Epic Games, shared his excitement, stating, “Now players can chat in real-time with Darth Vader, one of the most memorable characters in cinematic history.”

Underage players will need parental consent to interact with the character, and Epic Games encourages users to report any inappropriate responses generated by Darth Vader.

The addition of Darth Vader is part of a larger collaboration as Disney and Epic Games prepare to launch a new Star Wars season in Fortnite, titled “Galactic Battle.” This also includes upcoming episodes of an animated Star Wars series on Disney+. The project signifies a new era for interactive experiences in gaming.