Epic Games Empowers Creators with AI-Powered NPCs in Fortnite

Epic Games is pushing the boundaries of conversational AI in gaming with its latest innovation: the Persona Device, a new tool coming to Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). This feature empowers creators to build AI-driven non-playable characters (NPCs) that can engage players with dynamic, personality-rich conversations.

The Persona Device was showcased during Epic’s 2025 State of Unreal keynote with a demo featuring a robot named Mr. Buttons. Unlike scripted NPCs, Mr. Buttons uses AI to respond with comedic finesse, recall past interactions, and adapt its dialogue based on player input. This creates a more immersive and emergent gameplay experience.

Mr. Buttons’ personality is defined within the Verse programming language, portraying it as a mysterious cosmic entity with infinite curiosity. Players interact with it by discussing a big red button it wants them to press — a simple premise that unfolds through playful, sometimes cryptic dialogue. The AI even uses natural speech patterns like filler words to enhance realism.

While the Persona Device offers exciting creative freedom, it requires developers to program how NPCs influence the game world. For example, Mr. Buttons prevents players from leaving a room by redirecting them and changing its behavior, but it cannot generate new assets or interactions independently.

Testing the demo revealed both the potential and limitations of AI NPCs. Mr. Buttons could remember earlier conversations and respond creatively — even adopting rhymes or Shakespearean speech on request. However, the novelty wore off after a few minutes, highlighting the challenge of sustaining player engagement with AI-driven characters alone.

There are also concerns about content moderation and intellectual property. Epic’s earlier AI Darth Vader character faced issues with players tricking it into inappropriate language, prompting quick updates. Additionally, voice rights, such as those involving the late James Earl Jones’ portrayal of Vader, raise questions about what voices creators can legally use.

Despite these challenges, the Persona Device represents a significant step forward for smaller development teams seeking to add depth and variety to their games without extensive scripting or voice acting resources. It opens doors to novel gameplay experiences driven by AI personalities that react and adapt in real time.

As conversational AI continues to evolve, tools like the Persona Device will challenge creators to balance innovation with player engagement and ethical considerations. Whether these AI NPCs become a staple of Fortnite or other games remains to be seen, but their potential to transform interactive storytelling is undeniable.