Fortnite has implemented a new crossover, which includes the virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI, who is in great demand, as one of the items in the game’s shop. The news was brought to light by leaker ShiinaBR on Twitter, who showed a trailer of the release together with the narrative that the collaboration had already been made available for purchase. This partnership is a step forward in Epic Games’ mixing of worlds between gaming and the internet, but the reactions of the community are already split and chaotic.
Now, the initial thing that was, the tweet of ShiinaBR simply shows the trailer and provides a link. It is not a huge celebration, just a big bang, Kizuna AI in Fortnite. For those who do not watch Vtuber streams all day, Kizuna AI is one of the first and most popular virtual YouTubers that made the whole scene big. So, the virtual corner of the internet is definitely very excited with the news of her getting a skin and that too a big deal in the video that comes with the soft, lively J-pop and shows her enjoying the island. It is really cute! But, the replies… they are nothing less than a show.
The community response was divided faster than when one squad is attacked by a third-party. There is the hype team like user ‘Reebs’ who only put up the motto “More Anime = Win”. So easy, yet so powerful, we side with them. Another netizen ‘Skyler Loves Vtubers!’ (the name indicates a lot of commitment) was very thrilled as they even went ahead and said that ‘they did buy it, and no regrets at all.’ And they even got into a bit of… stuff… defending their buy. On the contrary, there is the opposite side. User, ‘Che6922’ shouted saying “Not a single soul is buying this 😔. To which, lol, Skyler and others instantly replied to him saying, ‘I have already purchased it, so your calculations are wrong, mate.’
This triggered off a little confrontation in the quotes. A person named ‘helsie’ stated “there will be a lot of virgins buying ts”, thus, bringing in the negativity of the Twitter era at its very best. But another user ‘VideogameFan’ was like “I am going to buy it” and later called the negative comment “dumb shit”. This is the typical cycle of Fortnite collaboration: the announcing of a new crossover, intrinsic division, quarrels about who is going to buy it first, and finally, the weirdest and the most personal attack. It is a well-choreographed dance but with anime avatars.
Furthermore, there is some more chaos that is very subtly present. One user was correcting another on the pronunciation of the name and pointed out that “A.I.” is the Japanese word for “Love”, and not just for artificial intelligence. Some users are already speculating about other possible collaborations in the replies, e.g., Chainsaw Man or an Alan Walker tie-up due to a separate teaser. It is an absolute uproar of excitement, complaints, and random questions. One user even asked if the skin was going to be part of the Icon Series, which is a valid point considering that she is a digital creator.
What is quite funny is that even with all the comments like “no one is buying this” and “virgins”, there are players who are just… openly and happily getting the skin. They are saying it is one of their best purchases. Isn’t such the real story? Fortnite’s shop is all about this kind of thing. They bring out something niche, it becomes a trend because people get upset about it, but those who need it really want it & supportive to it. The ongoing debating just gives it more life.
Besides, it is also a sign of the coming of age of gaming crossovers. It’s not just about Marvel and Star Wars anymore. They are taking in the internet personalities, VTubers, singers, and so forth… the boundary among the game, social media, and the virtual meeting place is totally gone. Fortnite is the funfair, and the kiosk of Kizuna AI has just been set up. Whether cringe or cool, it is certainly the talk. Moreover, some of you will surely be spending your V-Bucks on it.
The Kizuna AI pack is available in the game store. It consists of the skin, probably a back bling plus an axe and so on. If you are a VTuber fan or just a person who likes the aesthetics, you are probably already logging in. If you regard it as the worst thing ever, you are probably quoting it with an angry meme. The beautiful, messy cycle of Fortnite fandom keeps on turning without a break. Indeed, such collaborations reap rewards by tapping into particular, vibrant communities and the fierce debates in the online forums only serve. This dynamic is also seen in other games, like the recent updates in Marvel Rivals on PlayStation and Xbox.
