Chappell Roan is coming to Fortnite. Fine, Ill do my first microtransaction.
As soon as I downloaded Fortnite in 2018, I vowed never to buy a skin. Those sly dogs at Epic Games couldn't get me to spend real American dollars on something purely cosmetic in an otherwise free game. I was better than that, I thought. If I wanted a skin that badly, I'd just grind enough free V-Bucks from Battle Passes. I have self-control and a hard work ethic. I would not succumb. Amen, I say to you, thou shall not microtransact.
This doctrine hasn't always been easy to uphold. Temptation crept in when Sabrina Carpenter took over my lobbies last year. I nearly caved again on December's Kim Kardashian skin with changeable outfits and hairstyles, then decided there were better ways to spend $13.49.
This week, that better way finally presented itself. This week, I will break my promise. I will be purchasing one of Chappell Roan's upcoming Fortnite skins. Ya finally got me, girls.
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Today (Tuesday, Feb. 3), Epic announced that the Grammy winner will be the season 13 Icon for Fortnite's Festival game mode, confirming leaks from late January. Additionally, several Roan-themed cosmetics will be available in the game for a limited time starting this Thursday, Feb. 5.
Previous Festival Icons include Carpenter, Blackpink's Lisa, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, and The Weeknd.
According to Epic's press release, players can buy the Heartcore Music Pass to unlock the Chappell Roan Outfit (with a red edit style), a skin inspired by one of Roan's star-spangled, cowboy-hatted tour costumes. The pass also includes a "Pink Pony Club" Jam Track, a reactive Pink Pony Star Back Bling, and instruments like a Midwest Princess Keytar. Fortnite Crew subscribers will get the Music Pass automatically.
A second skin, the Roan of Arc Outfit, will be available for standalone purchase in the Fortnite Item Shop. It's inspired by Roan's iconic knight-in-shining-armor look from her performance of "Good Luck, Babe!" at the 2024 VMAs. (I'll be taking this one hot to go. It's too good to pass up.) Players can bundle it with a flaming sword pickaxe, a Pink Pony Sidekick, and a traversal Femininomenon Emote.
Other Roan songs like "Good Luck, Babe!," "HOT TO GO!," and "The Giver" were previously available as Fortnite Jam Tracks, or playable in-game songs. They'll be returning to the Item Shop.
The Subway singer's Fortnite appearance has been a long time coming. In an interview with BBC Radio 1 last January, Roan said she likes to unwind by playing Fortnite on the Nintendo Switch and asked Epic to "please give me a skin, please." They got the job done.