Fortnite has finally brought back the rest of Scooby’s gang along with Mystery Inc in its item shop after the long wait of Epic Games and players during which the duo of Scooby-Doo and Shaggy was the only one available. Along with the previous ones, the whole gang comprising Velma, Daphne, and Fred is now present, which suggests they are not just solving mysteries but also getting into some firefights.
The gigantic reveal was done by the official Fortnite account with a simple “The gang’s all here!” message along with a slick image that showed all five characters lined up and ready for action. This crossover really does connect the dots between the two worlds, and you just needed to think about it for a while. Both franchises are counting on groups of people to investigate strange happenings and frighten the monsters away. Yet, in Fortnite’s case, you can do more than just set up funny traps that never work – you can actually shoot back.
Of course, the community’s reactions have been pretty much divided, to put it mildly, which has always been the case with everything related to Fortnite. While many players are very eager to complete their Mystery Inc collection, some others are pointing out “interesting” design decisions on the other hand.
One user using the handle Thomz, asked Epic to “please fix Fred and Shaggy’s face,” and quite frankly, that is true; they are not looking quite alright if you take a closer look at them. It is as if somebody attempted to recreate them from memory after watching an episode back in 2003. Another user, who goes by the name ChuckIRL, was even more blunt when he stated, “I bought Fred and don’t want him anymore!” which is quite a tough but also amusing comment. He later said that Fred looks like “the gay ass blue and white default shirt,” which is definitely, at the very least, a very different view.
Additionally, there are grumbles about the cost since Epic has not released anything without someone complaining about the price already. User WLPD32 referred to the prices as “crazy,” while another player merely commented, “Charging FAR too much fam” accompanied by a crying emoji. This has become pretty much the standard Fortnite discourse – new skins come out, people want them, people complain about V-Bucks prices, rinse and repeat.
Anyway, what is more shocking is that a lot of players are treating this Scooby-Doo announcement as a golden opportunity to voice other complaints about the game. The comment section quickly became a huge wishlist and complaint center. Numerous users are asking for the “OG movement animations” to come back, and the hashtag #BringBackOMPP is trending in the replies. One very dedicated player named AceOfD3ath even declared, “If OG movement isn’t in the game by chapter 7 we (yes we) are all quitting the game forever.”
Among the other strange demands the replies contained, there was one to “Bring back Alan Wake,” another to “Put guns back in delulu” (whatever that means), and someone pleading for the return of “TT Raven” whoever that is. Everyone who saw the announcement of the Scooby gang seemed to take it as their opportunity to ask for every single thing they have ever wanted in Fortnite.
There has been even a bit of a controversy concerning voice chat bans with one user claiming that they were banned “for probably defending myself against MEN being rude to me,” which sounds rather complicated. And another player grumbling about the “no sweat” section being very frequently reintroduced in the shop. People will find anything to complain about, I assure you.
Yet, if we ignore all the random demands and complaints, this is indeed a very important crossover. Scooby-Doo has been part of the pop culture for almost fifty years? Having the whole gang in the arguably biggest battle royale in the world is a significant event. It is difficult to imagine that children who grew up watching Scooby-Doo reruns can now use these characters in a battle royale. The timeline is truly amazing.
I think the execution has been very good. Every character has his/her own style and features that are similar to the cartoon version. Velma is in her iconic orange sweater and is always losing her glasses (most likely), Daphne is in that purple dress, and Fred is… well, he is wearing the ascot and has got the blonde hair. Did they also bring the Mystery Machine as a glider? I am curious if that was already there for the earlier release. Anyhow, it is a good addition.
What is mesmerizing, is that Epic is still capable of creating these crossovers that are at the same time completely random and perfectly natural. It would not be a surprise if the Scooby-Doo gang found themselves in Fortnite’s insane universe. They have always surrounded themselves with the mystery and the monsters, thus the battle royale island is just the usual place for them.
Moreover, it is summer almost around the corner therefore timing is perfect. Scooby-Doo has summer vacation connotations, so to say, likely because of all those episodes filmed at beach resorts and amusement parks. Anyway, one user asked though why it would be a summer event, to which I say…well, good point but also who cares? Scooby-Doo is everlasting, it does not have to be tied to a certain season.
In a larger context, this is another example of Fortnite strengthening its position as the ultimate gaming crossover platform. Where else can you see Shaggy teaming up with Goku to battle Darth Vader while Ariana Grande is flying overhead? Actually, do not answer that; it might exist, and I do not want to know.
What is next for Fortnite crossovers is the big question now? They have almost covered all the major franchises already. Personally, I am wishing for a Blues Brothers collaboration but that might just be my wishful thinking. Or perhaps they will finally add the Teen Titans since people keep asking for Raven. At this rate, they will definitely have the entire Warner Bros catalog by 2025.
But for now, the Mystery Inc gang is here, and in spite of some debatable facial animations and the usual pricing complaints, it is still a very solid addition to the ever-growing roster of iconic characters in Fortnite. Just try not to think too much about the fact that Scooby-Doo can now officially wield an assault rifle. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.
