Fortnite has made a habit of unexpected partnerships leading to unorthodox content, and the latest rumor points to yet another gaming powerhouse. If the recent rumors of an upcoming Fortnite and Mario collab are true, it may open the door for more Nintendo additions as well.
Fortnite fans were treated to a very unusual rumor in the past weeks after leaker iFireMonkey supposedly uncovered an unused asset within the game. In a tweet, he revealed an image of the question mark block from the Mario franchise, saying “Random flipbook asset for some type of vehicle cosmetic,” later adding that the file name is “MC Block.” Fans were quick to jump to conclusions that the asset must be for some upcoming Mario crossover with Fortnite, though nothing pointing that way has been revealed by Epic Games. Of course, leaks and rumors should always be approached with caution, but, if Mario content is on the way to Fortnite, it might pave the way for more Nintendo franchises to join the fun.
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What’s the Best Fortnite Season of All Time?
Even though it might not be the best season objectively, Chapter 1 Season 4 was my favorite Fortnite season. I’ve changed my mind about this question several times over the years because Season 3 was also very memorable to me, but overall, I think I had an even better time with Season 4. It was the first time I ever bought the Battle Pass, I was always looking forward to the new Weekly Quests, grabbing the secret level, and the lore was simple yet captivating.
Epic Has Expressed Interest in a Nintendo Partnership in the Past
Part of the reason this rumor has been so quick to take off is the history between Epic and Nintendo. Apparently, the two companies have been in communication before, with Epic expressing interest in Nintendo crossover content. Although no deal was able to be made at the time, the leaked vehicle asset has fans hoping that the two were able to come to an agreement after more negotiations. If true, the Mario crossover would be the first Nintendo partnership added to Fortnite, but it would be a shame to end the cross-promotion there. With the vast history of Nintendo properties to work with, Fortnite could add untold new content based on the gaming giant.
Metroid’s Samus Should Join Battle Royale
If the idea of Nintendo content in Fortnite sounds familiar, it may be because of the planned, but ultimately scrapped, Metroid crossover. As the story goes, Epic wanted to add Samus as a Fortnite skin around 2020. This was when the franchise was just beginning to add other gaming icons as playable skins, such as Kratos and Master Chief, so it inquired with Nintendo about including the famed bounty hunter in the mix. Originally, Nintendo was interested, but the deal fell through when Epic couldn’t offer console exclusivity to the character. If the Mario deal goes through, perhaps the two could revisit Samus’ inclusion as well. After all, a Metroid back bling or glider would be a great addition to any loadout.
Nintendo’s History with Guns
For those wondering why the first Nintendo content in Fortnite would be a vehicle cosmetic rather than a playable skin or weapon, it’s important to remember the company’s family-friendly reputation. Nintendo has always viewed itself as a developer who creates games for the whole family, taking pride in bringing people together through gaming. As such, most of its games don’t feature overt violence. Because of this, even if the Mario crossover is real, it’s unlikely that Nintendo will allow him to be seen holding a gun in Fortnite.
It’s admittedly a strange image that just doesn’t fit with Nintendo’s reputation. However, there are Nintendo characters who do use firearms. Metroid and Star Fox are early examples, and recently, Nintendo has explored the shooter genre with the Splatoon series. Any characters from those IPs might fit well among the Fortnite roster. There may even be the chance of their weapons, or even the old-school NES zapper, appearing as a mythic weapon at some point in the future.
New Game Modes
As Fortnite has expanded, it has gained new modes, like the zero build mode, as well as the racing and rhythm games added last year. With rumors that more game mopeds are being added to Fortnite, it’s worth considering that Nintendo could contribute to those as well. Some have theorized that the vehicle customization might indicate that a Mario Kart-themed mode may be on the way. If that’s the case, then the sky’s the limit on what Fortnite could include next, even some of Nintendo’s most heavily guarded characters.
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