Back in September 2017, a small survival game calledFortnitereleased a new mode titled “Battle Royale.” Within just two weeks,Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode had gained 10 million players, and its popularity has only continued to grow over the last five years. WhileFortnite’s tight gameplay and family-friendly nature are both major reasons behind the game’s monumental success, it also owes quite a bit to its many crossovers, pulling in fans from across the pop-culture sphere. FromStar Warsto Marvel crossovers,Fortnitehas crossed over with countless pop-culture properties over the years, and it might be about to do it once more.
According to a recent report,Fortnite’s next big crossoverwill be with EA’sDead Space, designed to coincide with theDead Spaceremake’s release later this month. WithFortnitebeing one of the biggest games on the planet, supposed leaks and rumors are constantly circulating around it, and while fans are always encouraged to take these leaks with a pinch of salt, that’s especially true with the latestDead Spacerumor.
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Every time a big-profile game, movie, or TV show is set to release, theFortnitecommunity begins speculating on if the game will cross over with it. This has become somewhat of a routine for the community, and to be fair, they’re often correct. Shows likeDisney’sThe Mandalorian,Obi-Wan Kenobi,andThe Walking Deadall receivedFortnitetie-in skins and even some tie-in quests. So, when the community starts speculating that the upcomingDead Spaceremake is set to get aFortnitetie-in on January 23, right in time for its release date, it doesn’t seem too outlandish.
However, the big sticking point is that aniconic horror video gamethat is quite brutal,Dead Spaceis rated M for mature by the ESRB. Taking inspiration from movies likeAlien,Dead Spacesees players control Isaac Clarke, an engineer trapped on a ship, forced to make his way through hordes of mutilated Necromorphs. One ofDead Space’s main mechanics sees the player dismember these monsters in an attempt to slow them down. And if the Necromorphs get too close, they’ll rip the player apart in a number of horrifyingly gory ways.
Fortniteis no stranger to crossing over with more adult-oriented properties, butDead Spacemight be just a bit too much for the bright and colorful battle royale. Out of context, all ofFortnite’s more adult-themed characters fit in fine with the game’s brighter aesthetic. Kratos isn’t murdering gods, theResident Evilcrew isn’t blowing zombies' brains out, and the Doom Slayer isn’t ripping and tearing his way through hell. While Isaac Clarke also wouldn’t be going about his normal gory business, his appearance doesn’t quite fitFortnite’s graphics art style, with his outfit being just as grim, gritty, and foreboding as the game it’s from.
On a further note,Fortnitedoesn’t usually cross over with straight-up horror IPs.Resident Evilis quite action-based,The Walking Deadis much tamer thanDead Space, andPredatorandAlien’s iconography makes them an exception to the rule.Fortnitetends to stay away from properties that are solely marketed and consumed by an adult audience, making the rumoredDead Spacecrossover seem a little unlikely. That being said, this collaboration wouldn’t be the first timeFortnitehas gone against its own grain, and fans could end up seeing an Isaac Clarke skin after all, though they shouldn’t expect any themed quests or Necromorphs to appear in-game.
Fortniteis available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
