Fortnite Crossovers That Are Probably Never Happening

It's 2026, and Fortnite is still the undisputed king of the crossover. Over the years, the island has become a bizarre, wonderful melting pot where Batman can dance with Goku, Kelsier from Mistborn can wield a lightsaber, and a streamer like Ninja can become a digital deity. The core gameplay has evolved with map resets, zero-build modes, and increasingly wild traversal methods, but let's be real—the collabs are what keep the cultural conversation buzzing. Trying to list every crossover is a fool's errand; it's like trying to count the grains of sand on the battle bus's tires. Yet, for all its inclusive, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink philosophy, there are some franchises that seem destined to remain on the sidelines, locked away in a vault guarded by legal dragons, tonal mismatches, or plain old competitive pride.

Let's start with the realm of punishing, atmospheric medieval fantasy. Remember those juicy rumors back in 2022 about an Elden Ring crossover? Fans were already theory-crafting Tarnished skins doing the Orange Justice over the corpses of their foes. It made sense on paper: Bandai Namco had already worked with Epic on Pac-Man and Galaxian. But here we are, years later, and the only thing maidenless on the island is the hope for this collaboration. FromSoftware's worlds are masterpieces of lonely, punishing grandeur, but they lack that one iconic, marketable mascot that Fortnite loves to turn into a skin. Would a generic Tarnished in a bucket helm really capture the essence? Plus, Fortnite players have been begging for a proper medieval season for ages, and Epic seems oddly reluctant to fully commit to that aesthetic. While never say never, the vibe is that these hardcore, lore-dense fantasy epics and Fortnite's vibrant, chaotic playground are just too different to ever truly merge.

Speaking of iconic characters locked away in a fortress, let's talk about Nintendo. The gaming giant is notoriously protective of its IPs, treating them like priceless artifacts in a climate-controlled museum. After Kratos and Master Chief made their grand entrances, the rumor mill went into overdrive: surely Samus Aran would be next to complete the iconic trio! It seemed like a perfect fit—a sci-fi hero with a distinct silhouette. Yet, even with the triumphant returns of Metroid Dread and Prime Remastered, Samus remains conspicuously absent.

Nintendo's strategy is clear: its characters are ambassadors for its own ecosystem. While other Japanese publishers like Capcom and Square Enix have happily joined the party, Nintendo prefers to keep its all-stars within the confines of its own stadiums like Super Smash Bros. The chance of seeing Link, Mario, or Samus dropping into Tilted Towers feels slimmer than winning a solo match against a squad of pro builders. It's a shame, but it's a business reality as solid as a Thwomp.

Now, let's shift gears from fantasy and family-friendly icons to the gritty, realistic world of military shooters. Fortnite, for all its gunplay, is a brightly colored, third-person spectacle aimed at a broad audience. It leans heavily into sci-fi and fantasy aesthetics to soften the edges of combat. This creates a natural barrier for hyper-realistic war franchises.

• Doom Slayer and Marcus Fenix? They fit the 'gritty sci-fi' mold perfectly and have made their mark.

• Soldiers from Battlefield, STALKER, or Rainbow Six Siege? They're a much harder sell.

The visual and tonal clash would be jarring. Imagine a photorealistic soldier from Battlefield doing the Griddy next to a banana in a suit. It just doesn't compute. While there's always chatter about a mega Activision-Blizzard crossover bringing in Call of Duty elements, it's likely to be the more outlandish, universe-hopping aspects (like zombies or superheroes from Black Ops Cold War) rather than a straight-up Captain Price skin. The core, grounded military sim vibe of these franchises is probably staying in its own trench.

Ah, but the most fascinating barrier isn't about tone or aesthetics—it's about direct competition. Think about it. Fortnite sits atop the battle royale mountain, and its most direct rivals are other games in the same genre. A crossover with Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, or PUBG: Battlegrounds would be the equivalent of Coca-Cola doing a promotional tie-in with Pepsi. It's almost unthinkable. For a competitor to lend its iconography to Fortnite could be seen as a tacit admission of who rules the roost.

Epic Games isn't shy about borrowing successful mechanics from other BRs (remember the respawn system?), but borrowing their actual characters is a whole different ball game. This is the saddest pill to swallow for some fans, as it dashes dreams of seeing BT-7274 from Titanfall stomping around the island or Bloodhound from Apex Legends tracking opponents. There's a rich history here, too: remember the community backlash over the overpowered B.R.U.T.E. mech? Some drew parallels to Titanfall, and the disaster made Epic extra cautious about importing ideas that could disrupt the delicate balance. These franchises may exist in parallel universes, but in the name of healthy, cutthroat competition, they're probably destined to never officially meet.

So, while Fortnite's island continues to expand into a surreal, pop-culture omniverse, its borders are not without limits. Some doors remain locked due to corporate strategy, tonal dissonance, or the simple, fierce spirit of rivalry. The game's magic lies in its curated chaos, and perhaps some universes are better off watching the madness from afar, their legends intact and separate from the ever-spinning vortex of the battle bus. The list of who's in will always be more exciting than the list of who's out, but pondering the impossible crossovers is a fun pastime for any dedicated player waiting for the next bus to arrive. 😉

Comprehensive reviews can be found on Giant Bomb, where the team frequently discusses the cultural impact of Fortnite's crossovers and the challenges of integrating franchises with vastly different tones or competitive interests. Their podcasts and articles often highlight how certain IPs, like Nintendo's or major military shooters, remain elusive due to business strategies and brand protection, echoing the sentiments explored in this blog.