Nintendo Rejected Fortnite Metroid Crossover: Epic Games Details Switch-Exclusive Talks
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Published on: April 23, 2024
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Epic Games, the studio behind the global phenomenon Fortnite, has long expressed interest in collaborating with Nintendo to introduce its iconic characters into the massively popular battle royale.
The most prominent prospect was the inclusion of Samus Aran, the protagonist of Nintendo’s legendary Metroid franchise.
However, in new revelations from a Game File interview, Epic's former Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard shed light on why these talks never resulted in an official Nintendo crossover for Fortnite.
Samus Aran's potential crossover first came to light through leaked Epic Games documents, which indicated that Epic had concrete plans and a keen interest in bringing the famed bounty hunter into Fortnite as a playable skin.
This would have followed the path set by previous high-profile collaborations, such as the introduction of Master Chief from Halo and Kratos from God of War, both of which became available to Fortnite players across all platforms.
In his recent discussion with Game File, Donald Mustard explained that negotiations with Nintendo reached an impasse due to platform exclusivity concerns.
"Nintendo was particularly cautious about having their characters appear on platforms that aren't their own," Mustard explained.
"They were certainly excited at the idea of seeing Nintendo characters in Fortnite, but only if those characters were exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version of the game."
This stance contrasted sharply with Epic Games' ongoing strategy to provide a unified experience for all Fortnite players, regardless of their device or platform.
Mustard noted that Epic was insistent on maintaining parity across all systems, stating that Fortnite should remain the "same experience" for every player.
With existing licensed cosmetics such as Master Chief and Kratos available to everyone, limiting Samus Aran to Switch users alone was not in line with Epic's vision.
As a result, the much-anticipated crossover ultimately failed to materialize, despite both parties expressing enthusiasm for collaboration.
Notably, Epic Games previously referenced that incorporating a Nintendo character would represent their "biggest crossover ever," highlighting the significance Nintendo's participation would have in the gaming landscape.
Fortnite continues to stand as one of the strongest third-party titles available on the Nintendo Switch eShop, underscoring the importance of cross-platform content.
Meanwhile, the Metroid series remains a hallmark of Nintendo's lineup, with Samus Aran regarded as one of gaming's most influential protagonists.
While fans may still hope for future collaborations, at present, Nintendo's beloved heroes remain absent from the Fortnite island.
These behind-the-scenes details illustrate just how much Nintendo values the integrity and exclusivity of its intellectual property, even in the face of potentially industry-defining partnerships.
As Epic Games continues to expand Fortnite's reach, the company’s consistent approach to all-platform parity will likely remain central to its collaboration philosophy.
