On an update made for Fortnite recently, Fortnite’s LEGO mode is getting somewhat altered: Brick Bay now has AI-assisted NPCs roaming about, and the reaction has been, Uh, awkward. Alien Slurp Leviathan and Detective Noir were the first to receive AI treatment, with responses to player interactions and contributed to dynamic dialog until June 12. The reception of this update is split, with some calling it innovative while others cry “soul-less cash grab.”
This is how it goes: The NPCs force AI into generating lines of voice unique to moments happening in the game. They do not come with any pre-recorded sets of lines; just pure algorithmic banters. Epic says this is an experiment, but community members are deeply divided. One of the community members, named Dhudzi, said in the replies, “Talking to a machine is nothing like talking to a person that actually cares about that character. It’s just dry, without emotion.” Ouch!
But not all were negative. Ash responded by saying that Fortnite is a tech demo for AI done right: “This is them trying to establish sane logic for this new technology that doesn’t affect creatives.” At the very least, it is an opt-in feature-unlike some other cough Ubisoft cough implementations.
Then comes the epic blow in translation. Fortnite supports the use of 14 languages. But is it the same for AI voices? Just English. In other words, 14 possible gigs for voice actors suddenly disappeared, and the thought gave Dhudizi a pang in the stomach: “Pre-recorded lines are way better.” On the other hand, Frank G replied, “AI isn’t the problem if the VAs get compensated.” Well, that’s something to ponder-about, but did it really happen? EPIC is a little hush on that one.
Then there’s the Vader scandal. The players mocked the AI Star Wars villain for sounding like “a boring edge-lord obsessed with military strategy.” Now, with the release of LEGO NPCs involved in it, the crowd is dubious. One user joked, “Time to boycott LEGO.” Another opined, “No one cares, this season’s trash already.”
But the twist is it could be the 4D-chess move by Epic. Having AI tested on a limited-time LEGO event might just be avoiding all the crap other studios get dumped on when they shove it into core gameplay.
Is that smart? Well, depends who you ask.
At the end of the day, this is either the future of engrossing NPCs or another nail in the coffin that artless algorithm-based gaming deserves. Either way, it’s yet another time the epic lab for this industry-changing technology. You like it or not; I must say, Epic just cannot help but be provocative.
So, are you going to be chatting with Slurp Leviathan, or is it all going to be muted on your end? Brick Bay is getting interesting, however.
