Fortnite Survey Signals Potential Nintendo Crossovers Through New ‘Sidekicks’ Feature

Epic Games is exploring new avenues for collaboration within its wildly popular battle royale, Fortnite, with the latest indications pointing towards a potential, long-sought-after partnership with Nintendo. A recent player survey has surfaced, revealing Epic’s interest in integrating beloved Nintendo characters into the game’s expanding ecosystem of cosmetic companions, known as “Sidekicks.”

Introduced in late October, the Sidekicks feature allows players to bring along small, allied characters that can offer in-game assistance, effectively acting as enhanced, interactive pets. This mechanic appears to be a key strategy for Epic Games to onboard a diverse range of intellectual properties into the Fortnite universe.

Nintendo Characters Among Top Surveyed Possibilities

The survey, distributed to Fortnite players, includes a wide array of potential characters for the Sidekicks system. Among the most notable, and eagerly anticipated by fans, are iconic figures from Nintendo’s rich history. The survey specifically lists:

• Kirby
• Meta Knight
• Diddy Kong
• Yoshi

These Nintendo characters are featured alongside a varied list of other potential collaborators, such as characters from Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph (Vanellope), Pixar’s Finding Nemo (Nemo), Star Wars (BB-8), and even figures like Mickey Mouse and Chucky. This broad range underscores Epic Games’ ongoing strategy of weaving popular culture into Fortnite.

A History of Near Misses and Strong Influences

While Fortnite has consistently polled players about Nintendo collaborations, a direct crossover featuring characters has yet to materialize. However, Epic Games has not shied away from incorporating elements that strongly echo Nintendo’s franchises. Past instances include in-game nods to the Monado from Xenoblade Chronicles and hints at a potential Metroid collaboration within Fortnite comic books.

The gaming world has witnessed Epic Games broker significant deals and integrations, most notably a multi-billion dollar agreement with Disney and the inclusion of IPs as diverse as The Simpsons. This precedent suggests that a Nintendo partnership, despite past challenges, remains a distinct possibility.

Source: X.com