The stable of Fortnite crossovers grows ever larger, with the latest event possibly being its biggest yet. Even as the game's own storyline moves from climax to climax, it always finds time to include multimedia incursions. After years of introducing guests from Marvel and DC Comics, TV shows and books, and even other video games, Fortnite has also crossed over with some of the largest manga and anime properties as Naruto and some of his ninja cohorts have been in the game for a while, and now Dragon Ball is getting its time to shine.
Fortnite has been introducing characters in alternate art styles for a while now, but it needed to better their integration over time. The shaders used for original anime-esque skins gradually improved, and Fortnite's Naruto crossover showed the fruits of these efforts. At that point, Shonen Jump fans knew that the additions of the other Big Three members were only a matter of time, and Dragon Ball has proven that theory correct. The remaining member, One Piece, isn't as popular around the world as Naruto and Dragon Ball, but its overwhelming presence and continued sales means that it should be next on Fortnite's anime checklist.
Fortnite Has a History of Major Media Crossovers
Fortnite is one of, if not the most lucrative games in the world. It is the benchmark for how well live-service and battle royale games can work, and nothing else has risen to its level. Because of its prodigious status, Fortnite has become a sort of multimedia Super Smash Bros. with how it approaches new seasons of content. Alongside plenty of original material, Fortnite has cherry-picked some of the most popular properties in media and added their characters into itself. An older event where players got access to Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet was just the tip of the iceberg.
Since then, Fortnite has expanded beyond where anyone thought it could go. It has attracted characters from popular TV shows like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead, and there have been other video game characters like Halo's Master Chief and Kratos from God of War. Kelsier, the main character from Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn novel, was even added through fortunate circumstances. Guests with significantly different art styles like Rick and Morty have been introduced, and manga characters were swift to follow. One Piece deserves to be next in the spotlight, as its captain and crew have plenty to add.
Why One Piece Should Join Fortnite Soon
One Piece has plenty of reasons to be in Fortnite already. Naruto and Dragon Ball made it in, and unlike those properties, One Piece’s original manga is still ongoing. It remains one of Shonen Jump's most successful properties over 1,000 chapters in, and it is currently entering its final story arc. One Piece is a celebrated series in Japan, and it has begun picking up momentum in North America after its first anime run bombed. Aside from completing the Big Three trio, it would be an honor for One Piece to join Fortnite, giving fans the satisfaction of seeing their beloved series get worldwide recognition.
The long-running manga powerhouse has no shortage of characters and objects to bring into Fortnite. Obviously the Straw Hat Pirates would be a priority, with Luffy, Nami, and Usopp likely leading the pack. Other humanoid members like Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and Brook also have a good chance of joining, but after that it becomes difficult to justify less standardized body types with the other crewmates. That leaves room for other characters such as Ace, Akainu, Crocodile, Buggy the Clown, and plenty of other icons.
Chopper could appear as a backpack, and the Going Merry or the Thousand Sunny could become vehicles. There could even be a treasure hunting side quest added for the One Piece event's duration. Overall, One Piece’s cartoonish action is a perfect fit for Fortnite, and hopefully there are already plans to make this crossover happen.
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