If you haven’t heard of Fortnite, you’re probably as old as I am. It’s a popular video game that young ones like to play. Since its launch, they have added new skins for famous characters, including ones from Star Wars.
In addition to this, Fortnite also added an AI-generated Darth Vader voice. This means the players talk to an AI Darth Vader, so of course, they try to get it to say things it shouldn’t.
This is why we can’t have nice things! Someone always has to spoil it. Epic Games, which makes Fortnite, had to fix the issue. A statement on Twitter said:
“We pushed a hotfix immediately and this shouldn’t happen again.”
I like the word ‘shouldn’t’ as it looks like you’re doing something, but it will probably happen again. Epic have said that if anyone does try to get the AI Vader to swear or use racial slurs, they will find themselves banned from the game.
In doing some research for this, I found this rather funny:
In another case, someone managed to get Vader to say a homophobic slur by mentioning it in the context of smoking, as the word is often used in British English as a term for cigarettes.
SAG-AFTRA Strikes Back
The new Fortnite feature hasn’t gone down well with SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors and voice-over artists. This week, the union filed an ‘unfair labour practice charge’ with the National Labour Relations Board against the game.
A statement from SAG-AFTRA said:
“We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of those legacies and renowned roles.”
“However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games.”
SAG-AFTRA went on to say that Llama Productions, a subdivision of Epic Games, had “failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union” in the last six months. The company made unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of employment “without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain” by using AI-generated voices.
Just to note, James Earl Jones, the original voice of Darth Vader, had given permission to use his likeness, including his voice, before he passed away.
