Fortnite’s Winterfest event, an annual affair that spans over the winter holidays, is always one of the most anticipated events and this time it will be a major one due to the interaction of the gaming and the pop culture spheres. The leaks have indicated that, both the virtual pop diva Hatsune Miku as well as the real-world pop princess Sabrina Carpenter will receive winter skins. HYPEX, the reliable leaker, has leaked this news which has resulted in the user base of the game in uncertainty and excitement, and has also confirmed Epic Games’ ongoing collaborations with the music and internet culture.
So what is the scoop? The leak implies that a ‘Winter Hatsune Miku’ and a festive-inspired Sabrina Carpenter outfit will be up for grabs in the Item Shop during Winterfest. This isn’t the first instance where Miku showed up in Fortnite; she was presented earlier this year but a seasonal variation is indeed a big thing with her faithful followers. In the case of Sabrina Carpenter, this is her first in-game appearance, leveraging her massive hit “Santa Doesn’t Know You Like I Do,” which, according to one excited gamer, is “the biggest xmas song of the 21st century.” What a remarkable coincidence!
The news has been well received online with reaction fully positive and enthusiastic. Consequently, they have even players already starting to communicate their likes and discuss the issues. One of the users, @SoraDeflect, was completely and utterly out of control expressing his excitement through the words, “OMG OMG OMG TWO ๐โ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐๐๐’๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐” which is literally the same vibe. However, not everyone is happy with the event. A small-scale war is taking place in the comment section between the supporters of Team Miku and Team Sabrina. One commentator, @venomglaze, appeared to be putting Miku down and so was prompting the comment “sabrina is based and im saying this as someone who likes miku” from user @Built_to_Rule. Another simply said about the drama, “yall are arguing over two fking skins, my god.” Quite a mood, isn’t it?
Apart from fan wars, another set of questions has emerged and they are coming at a rapid pace. The first one: will any of the skins be free? Winterfest is a time when free gifts are usually given away, like last year’s Snoop Dogg’s skin. For sure among the characters Miku will be the one that fans will want to be the giveaway. “Pls miku, be the free one,” cried @EmmanuelBr39557. Another one, @Sey_Senpai_YT, speculated, “I think miku will be a present tbh since snoop was last year.” But others are not so sure, as one simply said “yeah no” as a response to that idea. I guess the uncertainty is part of the fun?
Then comes the quality control department. Some Miku fans are wishing this new skin will come with a transformation. “I hope they fix Hatsune’s face model and hair with this new Winter outfit,” demanded @Spexckz. Others are just longing for that confirmation that it’s a good Snow Miku design and not, as @FrostbittenMage very desperately asked, “SOME SHITTY CHRISTMAS REMIX PLEASE HYPEX IM BEGGING.” The anxiety is real and you can’t help but feel for them.
As for Sabrina Carpenter’s fans, the hype is mainly about the all-around surprise and the possibility of an amazing trailer. One player even pictured a scenario that would break the internet: “SO HELP ME GOD IF THEY USE SANTA DOESNโT KNOW YOU LIKE I DO FOR THE TRAILER IM GONNA PASS OUT AND PROBABLY AWAY TOO.” Truthfully, Epic would be very stupid if they didn’t. It would be a sure-fire viral moment.
This leak is indicative of the present-day Fortnite. It’s not just a game, it’s a cultural center. One day you are fighting with a lightsaber, and the next you are either a digital pop star or a real-life pop star in a Santa hat. The crossover strategy might be crazy, yet it is effective because it attracts numerous fandoms simultaneously. There would still be some people who don’t understandโone reply claimed that “some Japanese bs” can not be compared to other collabs but the overwhelming response is pure hype. As @TeoReal96214 succinctly stated, “W for Fortnite.”
What does this imply for Winterfest? It indicates that the event is going to be another giant update that drives conversations. Apart from these two headline skins, players are still wondering if there will be completely new content for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
