Epic aims to enable cross-game use of Fortnite skins.
Epic Games has been championing the idea of an interconnected metaverse for quite some time, but that vision is still on the horizon. With the upcoming Unreal Engine 6, Epic is gearing up to make significant strides toward that ambitious goal. This new version will allow developers to create games that can utilize a player’s Fortnite skins, as well as enable them to design their own skins that are compatible with Fortnite.
“We’re addressing this challenge first because we want to validate the concept with a system that’s complex enough to serve as a meaningful proof of the idea, while also providing substantial value to players by honoring their purchases across a network of interconnected games,” said Marcus Wassmer, Epic’s EVP of development, in a blog post related to the State of Unreal keynote.
If this system proves successful and gains traction among developers, it could be a game-changer. Personally, I’ve invested more in Fortnite skins than I’d like to admit, and the thought of strutting around in non-Fortnite games wearing outfits like John Wick or my favorite Stormtrooper Samurai sounds like a blast.
However, for this to become a reality, developers will need to put in the effort to integrate support for these systems in their games, which isn’t guaranteed. They’ll likely require some incentives to motivate them to engage with this system rather than simply feeding into Epic’s Fortnite ecosystem. With Epic aiming for an early access release of Unreal Engine 6 by the end of 2027, followed by a full release “12-18 months later,” it will take some time before developers have the necessary tools to start incorporating Fortnite skins into their games.
This announcement comes at a time when Fortnite is facing its own set of challenges, as Epic laid off over 1,000 employees in March due to a decline in player engagement. While Fortnite still boasts 75 million monthly active users, as noted by Epic’s Hannah Lowry, its popularity has waned compared to its peak. Epic is working to revitalize interest through more gaming crossovers and plans to introduce a Roblox-like “Discover” screen that showcases various experiences when launching Fortnite, rather than just dropping players into the lobby. Additionally, the much-anticipated “persistent universe” collaboration with Disney, announced over two years ago, has yet to materialize.
Epic is also encountering resistance regarding its approach to generative AI. Recently, the company outlined how it employs generative AI to assist in creating art for Fortnite. As part of the State of Unreal updates, Epic announced plans to introduce an experimental MCP plugin for Unreal Engine, allowing developers to connect large language models (LLMs) to their projects for asset generation and other development tasks. On stage, Epic revealed a planned Fortnite crossover with the indie sensation Vampire Survivors, but Poncle, the game’s developer, stated that due to “today’s news about gen AI usage by Epic to create all sorts of game assets, including Fortnite characters,” it would be “reviewing” the collaboration.
