Fortnite’s Next Big Wave of Gaming Crossovers Revealed
▼ Summary
– Epic Games is launching a program to offer Fortnite cosmetics to players who purchase specific games on the Epic Games Store, starting with Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem.
– The program aims to scale to over 100 partnerships per year, with about 40 planned for this year and over 60 already set for 2027.
– This initiative benefits Epic by potentially drawing players from competitors like Steam and making the store more appealing to developers and publishers.
– Epic reported record growth for its store in 2025, including a 57% increase in third-party PC game spending to $400 million and 78 million monthly active users.
– Epic is planning significant updates to its PC launcher to improve speed and stability and will expand its mobile store to Japan and Brazil despite missing its 2024 install target.
The world of Fortnite is set for a massive expansion, with Epic Games announcing plans to dramatically increase the number of video game character crossovers. This initiative is part of a new official program tied to the Epic Games Store, where purchasing specific games will unlock exclusive cosmetic items for use within Fortnite. The strategy aims to create a powerful synergy between the popular battle royale title and the digital storefront, offering value to players while driving platform growth.
Epic Games Store General Manager Steve Allison revealed the ambitious scale of this program, stating the eventual goal is to scale to “over 100 partnerships per year.” For now, the rollout will be more measured, with about 40 crossovers planned for this year and over 60 already scheduled for 2027. The program kicks off with Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem on February 27th. Other major publishers confirmed to have crossovers in development include miHoYo, Pearl Abyss, S-Game, MintRocket, and Kakao Games, hinting at a future filled with diverse character appearances.
Allison emphasized the mutual benefits of this approach. “It’ll help a bunch of our partners, and it’ll be cool for our players,” he noted. The advantages for Epic are equally clear. An enticing Fortnite cosmetic could sway a customer to choose the Epic Games Store over a competitor like Steam. Increased purchases and user engagement on the store make it a more attractive marketplace for other developers and publishers, creating a positive feedback loop for the platform’s ecosystem.
This crossover news accompanied Epic’s annual review, which highlighted significant growth for the Epic Games Store. Player spending on third-party PC games surged 57 percent year-over-year, reaching a record $400 million. The platform also achieved a new peak of 78 million monthly active users on PC. Furthermore, users claimed a staggering 662 million free titles through Epic’s ongoing giveaway program, which Allison confirmed will continue through at least 2026. He described the free games initiative as essentially the company’s marketing budget, a key tool for user acquisition and retention.
Looking ahead, Epic is addressing long-standing user feedback about its PC launcher. The company plans a series of updates this summer, including a rebuild of the underlying architecture. The goal is to tackle criticisms about slow performance, aiming for faster load times and improved stability. Allison acknowledged the complaints, stating, “We know the criticism. We don’t disagree with it.” The desired outcome is an application that feels “instant” and “snappy” for users.
Epic’s mobile store ambitions continue, though with tempered expectations. The mobile Epic Games Store has seen over 50 million installs, which falls short of the 100 million target set for the end of 2024. Allison admitted, “We expected more,” citing the significant “friction from scare screens” on mobile devices as a major hurdle. Despite this, regulatory changes in key markets are prompting expansion. Epic plans to launch the mobile store in Japan this March, followed by Brazil in June, indicating a sustained commitment to growing its presence beyond the PC platform.
(Source: The Verge)
