Drop, Cop, Or Flop
Collaborations can be absolute homeruns or total flops, and Fortnite has given us both over the years. Remember that time you spent hard-earned V-Bucks on a skin that looked nothing like the character it was supposed to be? Yeah, we've all been there. Let's look into the hits and misses made by Epic Games, starting with the Fortnite collabs that let everyone down.
1. Star-Lord
Marvel fans were stoked when Guardians of the Galaxy joined Fortnite. The disappointment was crazy when they saw "Star-Lord," a character barely resembling Chris Pratt. Even Peter Quill's signature mask looked off. The brand basically threw some red leather on a character, called him Star-Lord, and hoped nobody would notice.
STAR LORD AND DANCE OFF Are Back In The Item Shop After 832 Days! by Tabor Hill
2. Quibi
Remember that streaming service nobody watched? Epic thought partnering with Quibi would be brilliant, showcasing exclusive content at Risky Reels. Players collectively shrugged, barely noticing the promotion. The final nail? Quibi went bankrupt shortly after.
Fortnite: Punk'd Event by Ash21
3. Aquaman
Epic Games teased us with visions of an underwater paradise when they introduced Jason Momoa's Aquaman as a Battle Pass skin. The character looked great swimming through the waters of Chapter 2, Season 3. But when the much-hyped Atlantis finally appeared as Coral Castle, players couldn't hide their disappointment at the underwhelming location.
AQUAMAN in FORTNITE! by TG Plays
4. Ghostbusters
The iconic jumpsuits made it into Fortnite, but everyone asked about the actual Ghostbusters. Players were hyped to potentially play as Venkman, Stantz, or even the newer crew. Instead, they got generic default characters wearing Ghostbuster uniforms.
Fortnite Ghostbusters Gear Bundle & Skins Review! (How Is The PROTON PACK Reactive?) by Tabor Hill
5. Wreck-It Ralph
A brief cameo at Risky Reels had the community buzzing with excitement. Ralph's appearance on screen seemed to signal the start of something amazing for Disney fans. Yet nothing else materialized afterward—no skin, no pickaxe, no emote. This glorified advertisement left players feeling like Ralph himself had rickrolled them.
Watch Wreck-It Ralph in Fortnite by IGN
6. IT
Once again, Epic masterfully created suspense by placing red balloons near sewers across the map. Players instantly recognized the Pennywise connection and braced themselves for terrifying content. The horror movie collaboration was teased to perfection. Sadly, the payoff never came, leaving players floating with disappointment, just like those balloons.
Fortnite X It Chapter 2 - Pennywise Easter Egg by ItzBazooka
7. Cobra Kai
The hit Netflix series seemed best for Fortnite's fighting mechanics. The character skins of Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso should have been awesome. However, they were a major letdown. Fans eager to "sweep the leg" in authentic Cobra Kai style were slapped with generic characters in karate uniforms.
8. Stranger Things
Fighting the Demogorgon in Fortnite should have been thrilling. While the Demogorgon and Chief Hopper skins looked decent, the collaboration stopped there. The Upside-Down never fully invaded the island. People expected themed weapons, portals, or a limited-time mode where they could battle monsters from Hawkins, but nothing materialized.
Stranger Things x Fortnite, BUT YOU ONLY HAVE 24 HOURS!!! by Tabor Hill
9. Travis Scott
What started as a mind-blowing concert quickly spiraled into disaster. Community excitement vanished faster than a chug splash after real-world tragedy struck at Scott's Astroworld concert. Epic eventually yanked the once-popular skin from the Item Shop, marking one of Fortnite's most dramatic collab falls from grace.
Travis Scott and Fortnite Present: Astronomical (Full Event Video) by Travis Scott
10. The Matrix
When Neo was rumored to enter the game, players prepared to dodge bullets in slow motion. The reality hit harder than Agent Smith's punches. Instead of awesome character skins, they received just two emotes and a weapon wrap. For such an iconic franchise, this minimalist approach wasn't right.
*NEW* MATRIX White Rabbit Bundle Gameplay! Before You Buy (Fortnite Battle Royale) by PIZO
But enough of the disappointments that left players hanging. Some surprises were actually amazing. So, let's celebrate the top ten Fortnite collaborations now.
1. National Football League (NFL)
Back in 2018, Epic Games completely changed the game by bringing real sports into the Fortnite universe. Players could suddenly rock jerseys from all 32 NFL teams while cranking 90s. The genius move connected two massive fanbases—gamers and football lovers, creating a perfect touchdown of marketing brilliance.
Buying Every *NEW* NFL Skin and Referee in Fortnite! (Gameplay) by PIZO
2. Michael Jordan's Jumpman Brand
The Downtown Drop LTM turned it into a gravity-defying playground inspired by Brooklyn's streets. You could grind rails and collect coins while sporting fresh Jumpman gear. What made this collab soar wasn't just the basketball connection but how well Fortnite captured the urban streetball culture that Jordan's brand represents.
Fortnite X Jumpman by Fortnite
3. Borderlands 3
Pandora literally invaded the Fortnite island. The cell-shaded aesthetic from Borderlands looked surreal against the game's cartoonish style. Those exploring the transformed zone even gained shields automatically, just like in the original game. Everyone loved this thoughtful recreation of Borderlands' unique art style and gameplay mechanics.
The *NEW* EASY Way to Get Borderlands 3 Bundle in Fortnite! Season 2 MEGA SALE by StrawDesertHD
4. John Wick
The Baba Yaga himself brought professional assassin vibes to the chaotic battlefield. Wick's Bounty LTM had players collecting gold coins from fallen enemies while avoiding the top bounty hunters. The timing with "John Wick: Chapter 3" was superb. Moreover, Wick's calculated violence translated into its elimination-focused gameplay.
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Suddenly, players were manipulating fire, earth, water, and air against opponents. The skins were incredibly detailed, pulling in the essence of characters like Aang and Katara. This collaboration showed Epic's willingness to adapt fundamental gameplay mechanics to represent the source material authentically.
Fortnite x Avatar: Elements - Gameplay Trailer by Fortnite
6. Jujutsu Kaisen
The cursed techniques from this anime sensation created some of the most visually spectacular combat moments. Enthusiasts lost their minds seeing Gojo's Domain Expansion and Sukuna's devastating attacks in-game. The brand's attention to detail with these supernatural abilities proved they understood precisely what makes Jujutsu Kaisen special.
7. Ariana Grande's Rift Tour
Here comes the pop star who turned the entire game into an interactive concert experience. Giant Ariana walked across oceans while players flew alongside her through colorful dimensions. More than a concert, it was a great approach to virtual entertainment that blurred the line between gaming and live performance.
Fortnite Presents: Rift Tour Featuring Ariana Grande by Ariana Grande
8. Marvel: Zero War
Unprecedented connections between Marvel and Fortnite culture were made by the ambitious five-issue comic series. The storyline explained how heroes like Spider-Man and Wolverine canonically entered the loop. People collecting all issues received exclusive cosmetics like the Iron Man Zero suit. It rightly expanded Fortnite's narrative universe.
Fortnite X Marvel: Zero War Issue 1 - Story Breakdown & Secrets by PlayStationGrenade
9. Charli XCX's 'BRAT' Phenomenon
This one saw lightning in a bottle by incorporating a cultural moment at its peak. The British singer brought her viral 'BRAT' aesthetic to the game on time. The "BRAT VIBE" emote featuring the dance from her hit song "Apple" instantly became a pre-game lobby essential.
Charli xcx: The BRAT Interview | Apple Music by Apple Music
10. Lionel Messi
Of course, the world's most celebrated footballer just had to sprinkle his magic on Fortnite with not one but two meticulously designed skins. You could recreate Messi's iconic goal celebrations after eliminations. This one was special because it transcended gaming communities. Even those who never followed esports recognized the legendary Argentine star.
