Key Highlights:
- Fortnite launches Marvel-themed ‘Absolute Doom’ season.
- New characters include Doctor Doom, War Machine, and Shuri.
- Disney partnership brings expanded franchise crossovers to Fortnite.
Epic Games has unveiled its latest season for the wildly popular battle royale game Fortnite.
Titled Fortnite x Marvel: Absolute Doom, this new chapter promises to bring a host of Marvel superheroes and villains to the colourful world of Fortnite, with the infamous Doctor Doom taking centre stage as the season’s primary antagonist.
The news broke during Disney’s D23 fan event, where Marvel boss Kevin Feige, alongside Star Wars legend Dave Filoni and Pixar chief Pete Doctor, revealed the exciting developments. You can watch the new season trailer below:
This star-studded presentation underscores the deepening relationship between Epic Games and Disney, hinting at a future rich with cross-franchise possibilities.
Set to kick off on Friday, August 16th, the new season will introduce a range of Marvel characters to Fortnite’s ever-expanding roster.
Players can look forward to suiting up as Gwenpool, War Machine, Emma Frost, Mysterio, and Shuri, among others.
But it’s not just newcomers joining the fray; fan-favourite Fortnite characters are getting Marvel makeovers too.
Captain Jonesy will don a version of Captain America’s iconic suit and wield his shield, while the game’s beloved banana character Peely transforms into ‘Peelverine’, a fruity take on Wolverine.
The season’s trailer, showcased during the event, teased even more character crossovers. Eagle-eyed fans spotted a furrier version of Fortnite’s muscular feline Meowscles, seemingly inspired by Marvel’s Sabretooth.
Rumours are also circulating about a Deadpool-inspired twist on the game’s fish character, dubbed ‘Fishpool’.
Epic Games has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will also make an appearance, though details on their roles remain under wraps.
This Marvel-centric season follows hot on the heels of Fortnite’s Mad Max-inspired wasteland theme. In a spectacular in-game event, players witnessed the downfall of the season’s villain, Megalo Don, as his pipeline of Nitro fuel exploded in a dazzling display.
The event, which drew around a million players, hinted at Doctor Doom’s involvement in the sabotage and reintroduced the ominous Pandora’s Box, a recurring threat in Fortnite’s ongoing narrative. There was also a Pirates of the Caribbean event that lasted from July 19 to August 6.
Disney and Epic Games Expand Fortnite’s Universe
But the excitement doesn’t stop with Marvel. Disney’s increased involvement in Fortnite extends to other beloved franchises.
Star Wars fans can look forward to seeing IG-88 and Moff Gideon from The Mandalorian join the battle, along with a cute Grogu back bling.
Pixar is also getting in on the action, with characters from The Incredibles set to make their Fortnite debut this autumn.
Classic Disney villains like Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent will also be making appearances, adding a touch of animated villainy to the game’s colourful world.
These announcements come in the wake of Epic Games’ massive $1.5 billion deal with Disney, aimed at further integrating Fortnite’s metaverse with Disney’s vast entertainment empire.
Leaks suggest that a permanent Disney store may be added to Fortnite, separate from its Item Shop, to help players keep track of their Disney-related purchases.
This could potentially pave the way for a future Fortnite Disney mode.
The focus on Doctor Doom as the season’s big bad is particularly timely, given Marvel Studios’ recent announcement that the character, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., will play a central role in the next Avengers film.
The timing literally couldn’t be anymore perfect!
While it’s unclear how closely the game’s storyline will tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s certain to generate buzz among fans of both franchises.
This isn’t the first time Fortnite has delved into the Marvel universe. A previous Marvel-focused season featured your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man. Another season saw Groot, She-Hulk, Thor, and others, culminating in an epic live event where players teamed up with Marvel heroes to defeat Galactus.
The ‘Absolute Doom’ season has big shoes to fill, but with its expanded roster and intriguing storyline, it seems up to the challenge.
As for gameplay, the new season promises to shake things up with both familiar and fresh elements.
Players can expect to wield Iron Man’s repulsors and Captain America’s shield once again, while new additions like Shuri’s Black Panther-inspired abilities and War Machine’s arsenal will add new strategies to master.
The introduction of Iron Man’s Rifle and Dual Micro SMGs suggests a meta shift that will keep even veteran players on their toes.
While the threat may not be as universe-ending as Galactus, the stakes in ‘Absolute Doom’ are still high.
Players will need to band together with their favourite Marvel heroes to thwart Doctor Doom’s nefarious schemes and save the Fortnite island once again.
As Fortnite BR continues to evolve and expand its collaborations, it cements its position not just as a game, but as a platform for cross-media storytelling.
With Disney’s increased involvement, the possibilities seem endless. The new Chapter 5 Season 4 kicks-off August 16th.
We’ll have more articles covering the new weapons in-depth and info on the battle pass up on the site real soon, so stay tuned.