It seems that Epic Games cracked the battle royale code back in 2017 with its breakout hit, Fortnite Battle Royale. While the original version of the game didn't quite explode in popularity, Epic Games found great success in its season-oriented, free-to-play battle royale game with the implementation of the Battle Pass, an ever-changing game map, and of course, an enormous plethora of cosmetics available for purchase. Over time, Fortnite skins have become more and more ambitious, leading to more purchasable cosmetics like emotes, weapon wraps, and even lobby music.
However, something else the game has been able to execute incredibly well over the past few years has been its crossovers. Despite Fortnite already being highly marketable with its cartoonish art style, the game has managed to collaborate with countless companies, franchises, and even celebrities to reach even wider audiences. From putting on a virtual concert with Travis Scott to basing an entire in-game season around Marvel super heroes, the game still manages to draw in millions of players daily. Now, these crossovers have become common place in Fortnite, especially in the form of skins with Chapter 2 Season 5 having no shortage itself.
Mandalorian
Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 released with one of the most popular bounty hunters in pop culture at the moment, the Mandalorian. A character starring in his own self-titled Star Wars series, the Mandalorian was introduced to Fortnite this season as the Season 5's tier 1 Battle Pass skin, immediately available to anyone who purchases the newest Battle Pass. Along with his own spray, banner icon, emoticons, and wallpaper, the Mandalorian also brought along a glider based on the bounty hunter's iconic ship, as well as an in-game pet based on The Child, but that's not all.
Extra style options were introduced for the skin this season as well, giving players the chance to complete quests to unlock different pieces of Beskar armor for the Mandalorian skin. Additionally, a crash-landed Razor Crest was added to the map in Chapter 2 Season 5 as a POI, where players could visit, loot, and even have the chance to take down the Mandalorian himself to obtain the character's jetpack and Amban sniper rifle.
Kratos
Almost as soon as Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 released, fans were excited to learn of a leaked skin featuring God of War's Kratos. Just a few days later on Dec 4, 2020, Kratos released as part of a new Gaming Legends series. Players could purchase Kratos separately or in a bundle as part of the Oathbreaker set which also includes the Mimir back bling, Leviathan Axe pickaxe, Guardian Shield glider, and Freezing Burst emote. Since its release, the Kratos skin has been appearing regularly in Fortnite's in-game shop. Additionally, being a Sony property, the Kratos skin includes a special promotion for those with a PlayStation 5. Players who purchase the skin and use it in a match on PS5 can unlock the Armored style option for Kratos.
Master Chief
It seems that Fortnite is really looking to both play off of the season's hunter theme and pay respects to iconic video game characters at the same time. Shortly after the release of Kratos, a skin based on Master Chief from Halo was also released. Like Kratos, Master Chief is part of the Gaming Legends series, putting the Microsoft character up in the ranks with Sony's Kratos. Players could purchase the Master Chief skin separately or in a bundle as part of the Master Chief set which includes the Battle Legend back bling, Gravity Hammer pickaxe, Lil' Warthog emote, and the UNSC Pelican glider.
Additionally, the Master Chief skin brought with it a recreation of Halo's Blood Gulch map in Fortnite's Creative Mode along with a capture the flag LTM. What's more is that, much like Kratos, the Master Chief skin includes a promotion allowing those who purchase the skin and play on an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S to unlock the Matte Black style option for Master Chief.
Daryl Dixon and Michonne
Aside from Master Chief, The Game Awards 2020 also brought fans the reveal of even more hunter-related skins featuring The Walking Dead's Daryl Dixon and Michonne. The skins released on December 17, 2020, and each could be purchased separately, with Daryl Dixon including the Daryl's Knife pickaxe and Michonne including the Michonne's Katana pickaxe. Additionally, players could purchase a bundle of the Survivors in Arms set, which includes both skins, both pickaxes, and the Hunting Quiver back bling.
Green Arrow
Just as Fortnite has brought properties from Sony and Microsoft together, it has brought many Marvel and DC Comics characters together as well, with the most recent DC character being Green Arrow. Late last year, Fortnite introduced Fortnite Crew, a subscription service for the game that offers players 1,000 V-Bucks monthly, as well as access to the Battle Pass and exclusive skins. Green Arrow is the second skin to be released exclusively for Fortnite Crew, being the subscription service's special skin for January 2021. Part of the DC Series, the Green Arrow skin comes along with the Tactical Quiver back bling and Boxing Glove Arrow pickaxe.
Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Taskmaster
The superhero skins released so far in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 don't stop there, however, as Marvel's Black Panther finally made it to the game on December 21, 2020. During the game's previous Marvel-themed season, many players thought a Black Panther skin would make its way to the game, especially since a Black Panther POI was included in Fortnite's map in Chapter 2 Season 4. However, the skin is finally in Fortnite, but only as part of the Marvel: Royalty and Warriors Pack.
The Black Panther set includes the skin with a style option featuring the hero's trademark kinetic armor, the King's Cowl back bling, Vibranium Daggers pickaxe, and Wakandan Skyrider glider. For many, the skin became a way to pay tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
While Black Panther was certainly at the forefront, the Marvel: Royalty and Warriors Pack also included Captain Marvel and Taskmaster skins. The Captain Marvel set includes the skin with a powered-up style option, the Kree Backplate back bling also with a powered-up style option, the Alpha Staff pickaxe, and the Power of Mar-Vell glider. The Taskmaster set includes the Taskmaster skin, the Mimic's Shield back bling, and the Copycat's Sword pickaxe.
Although Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 is already in its 6th week, fans can be sure that the game has a lot more surprises for them on the horizon. Not to mention, many believe that a skin of Metroid's iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran could come to the game to join Kratos and Master Chief, representing Nintendo in the Gaming Legends series. But for the time being, fans will just have to wait and see.
Fortnite is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.