This Fortnite and Daft Punk collab had everyone chatting for weeks. Leakers leaked whatever snippets they managed to dig out from this while rumors were flying all around. Then, in a way, the collaboration was sort of confirmed by Epic, who then managed to drop the bombshell. ‘Yes, the Daft Punk Experience is happening,’ they said, ‘but no, the band is NOT getting back together!’ With a heartbreak emoji to rub in the situation!
In case you missed it, here is what went down: Fortnite had a collaboration with Daft Punk. Called “The Daft Punk Experience,” it was supposed to be an immersive music experience of Daft Punk’s works. But Epic felt like clarifying—super-unambiguously—that this collaboration provided no sign of those two guys somehow regaining their immortality in some sort of reunion! They actually went on record saying, and I quote, “No. The Daft Punk Experience is an immersive music experience based on the band’s beloved music. The band is not getting back together.” Very strong words, so very strong that the whole hope was crushed anyway.
The reaction online was… something. The ironic part is that Epic knew they were playing with fire! On the baseline: regular guys just wanting to get their Daft Punk skins, building walls to “One More Time.” Then, hardcore Daft Punk fans thought this was a faint glimmer of hope for a reunion, and Epic just pissed on it. One player, iMommyTokyo, put it best: “Still crushing my dreams even in the metaverse. At least we get the music..,” which is basically the vibe for most.
Things escalated from here in those replies, as always. It spilled out into a generational debate on taste in music; one of the messiest. One commenter, Xolha_, called skins straight up trash and said that people really need to get over the band’s split. This did not go over well! An entire thread of people started defending the legacy of Daft Punk. jokertheclown30 said appreciating older music is not an obsession; it’s just good taste. Then GhostGODI proceeded to bash people for being “young little kids.” Classic “you had to be there” argument but in the context of electronic music. So messy.
Wait, what am I saying? I was on about the collab itself. So what even IS the collab? Details still seem kind of fuzzy, but from what I’m hearing, it’s more than just item shop cosmetics. They’ve been calling it an ‘experience,’ which usually means some sort of interactive concert or a special game mode for them in Fortnite terms. Likely, a brand-new Jam Track for Fortnite Festival. People in the replies started asking if it’s a permanent map or a limited-time-only map. Nobody really knows for sure yet. Yet the next and real question for the bundle price should be: How many V-Bucks is this nostalgia trip gonna cost us?
It’s kind of funny, actually, how the situation has grown to highlight the importance of these collabs. Fortnite has already evolved into the cultural hub. And it almost never is without friction when something as passionately loved as Daft Punk is brought into the mix. Some players like RouleWave say, “Daft punk fans are so desperate for them to come back just let go. The breakup was years ago. It’s time to move on.” So in a way, that’s a fair point? But it’s not easy letting go of a legend.
Then comes a whole new level of confusion for the green layer. One user by the name of Stick_Drewster just asked a really simple question: “Can anyone explain to me why Daft Punk broke up years ago?” This just shows that for many of the younger Fortnite players, this might end up being their first exposure to Daft Punk. It’s so cool that Fortnite can own the responsibility of introducing this music to a new audience, even if the context is a bit of a bummer for the OGs.
It is bittersweet, at the end of the day. Having Daft Punk coming into Fortnite is huge, a definite win. The music, the aesthetics, all of it is going to be a blast. But then, straight after, Epic Games feeling like throwing in their scathing denial about the reunion and stabbing everyone in the back really puts a downer on the hype. They’re basically saying, ‘Here’s a really cool present, by the way, this is the last one ever.’ Can people just be happy for a bit? Now, I get it, they wanted to cut down on misinformation. That was a little heart emoji well worth.
So yeah, the Daft Punk Experience is coming. Don’t hold your breath for Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo showing up on stage together anytime soon, but do get ready to have a blast with their classic tunes in the game. At least that counts for something.
