Unlikely Crossovers: Franchises That Fortnite Fans Dream of Collaborating With
Fortnite's collaboration roster boasts an array of media giants, but some franchises simply don't mesh well with the battle royale behemoth FromSoftware Games, Nintendo franchises, realistic military shooters, and other battle royales are unlikely to ever make the cut
Highlights
Fortnite has had a wide range of collaborations, including Marvel, DC, John Wick, NFL, bands, celebrities, and more.
There have been no concrete updates on possible collaborations between FromSoftware Games (Elden Ring) and Nintendo (Metroid).
Fortnite's sci-fi-focused nature makes it unlikely for realistic military shooters such as Battlefield, STALKER, and Rainbow Six Siege to make an appearance in the game.
Fortnite is renowned for its collaborations and crossovers, which have become one of its defining features. Throughout its four Chapters, Fortnite has seen numerous map resets, story developments, and the introduction of a zero-building mode. Alongside these, the game has expanded its core gameplay with new movement abilities, vehicles, and alternative traversal methods, adding technical depth to the overall experience. However, it is the crossovers that consistently dominate discussions surrounding Fortnite.
Attempting to compile a comprehensive list of all the collaborations Fortnite has engaged in would be an exercise in futility. While early crossovers with Marvel and DC characters left a lasting impression, the game also saw items and characters from John Wick and the National Football League make their way into Fortnite Chapter 1. Chapter 2 brought the inclusion of popular streamer Ninja, followed by appearances from real bands, celebrities, game characters, TV shows, Shonen Jump manga, and even Kelsier from Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn novels, all converging within the game. It's almost absurd to think that there are franchises that still haven't made an appearance in Fortnite, although certain properties may not align well with the game's style.
FromSoftware Games
Around the middle of 2022, rumors started circulating that Fortnite would be collaborating with Elden Ring. Both games have achieved tremendous success, and Fortnite has previously featured characters from games like Pac-Man and Galaxian, making the collaboration seem plausible. However, over a year has passed since then, and it appears unlikely that the collaboration will materialize. One of the main reasons for this is that Elden Ring, along with FromSoftware's Souls titles in general, lacks a central character that can easily be transformed into a Fortnite skin. Additionally, Fortnite fans have long been eagerly anticipating a season with a medieval theme, but it seldom receives representation. While it may be premature to declare it impossible, it seems challenging for these deeply entrenched medieval fantasy games to find a place within Fortnite.
Nintendo Franchises
Similar to Elden Ring, The Legend of Zelda faces a similar situation. Speculation arose when Fortnite added God of War's Kratos and Halo's Master Chief to their game, suggesting that Metroid's Samus Aran could potentially complete the trifecta on Nintendo's side. Despite the release of Metroid Dread and Prime Remastered, there is still no sign of Samus Aran's appearance in the game, even after two years. Nintendo is known for its protective nature when it comes to its characters, making it unlikely for Super Smash Bros. to cross paths with another crossover in the near future, unlike other Japanese publishers such as Capcom who have joined the Fortnite trend.
Realistic Military Shooters
Other Battle Royales
Fortnite takes great care in presenting its gunplay and visuals, catering to a younger audience with a combination of science fiction and fantasy elements. Unlike other realistic shooter franchises, it's interesting to note that Fortnite does not feature characters from games like Battlefield, STALKER, or Rainbow Six Siege. Surprisingly, even tough M-rated protagonists such as the Doom Slayer and those from Gears of War can be seen in more gritty Fortnite skins. While there are rumors of a potential crossover with Call of Duty, certain aspects of the franchise are unlikely to make an appearance.
In terms of collaboration, Activision has limitations when it comes to providing support to a direct competitor. The option to collaborate with other battle royale games such as Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, Apex Legends, and PUBG: Battlegrounds is completely off the table. Partnering with Fortnite could be viewed as a surrender, especially considering Fortnite's track record of incorporating successful mechanics from other battle royales. Disappointingly, this means that any expectation of Titanfall being separated from Apex Legends and borrowed by Epic is nonexistent. However, this outcome might actually be for the best, particularly considering the negative response Fortnite received when introducing the B.R.U.T.E. Ultimately, it's in the spirit of healthy competition that these franchises remain separate.
Fortnite is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
