Fortnite
News, coverage and analysis tracking Fortnite across the outlets.
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Fortnite’s Fortnitemares to be featured at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights — MP3s & NPCs
Universal Parks & Resorts is bringing Fortnite's Fortnitemares event to its Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. The scare zone will feature the iconic Battle Bus and characters from the game's Halloween-themed content, offering guests an immersive experience. The collaboration launches August 28 in Orlando and September 3 in Hollywood.
Former Ultima Online lead says MMOs are "finally free of the fever dream of imitating World of Warcraft" thanks to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and more
Raph Koster, lead designer of Ultima Online, believes the MMO genre has moved beyond the World of Warcraft-imitating phase, citing the success of sandbox titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft. He argues that the demand for social experiences and persistent worlds, even with smaller player counts, makes it an opportune time for new MMOs like his upcoming game, Stars Reach.
Persona collaboration is apparently coming to Fortnite next season
Rumors suggest that the Persona series will be featured in Fortnite in an upcoming collaboration next season. This news comes from leaker SamLeakss, though Atlus has not yet officially confirmed the partnership.
With Pokémon in Fortnite Seemingly Off the Table, Palworld Looks Likely to Crossover Instead
Popular Steam title Palworld is reportedly being considered for a crossover event with Fortnite. This comes as a collaboration with Pokémon in Fortnite appears unlikely to happen in the near future.
Evening Reading - July 21, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers several gaming and entertainment updates. News includes Wreckreation 2 in development, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expansion details, and Darkest Dungeon: The Fire's Edge DLC. Other mentions include Apple's device leasing program, Nintendo's response to tariff refunds, a Splatoon Raiders review, and collaborations for Fortnite and EA Sports FC.
Maybe Not Everything Needs To Be A Fortnite Collab
This opinion piece critiques Epic Games' decision to collaborate with the horror film Obsession for a Fortnite ad, arguing that the ad misses the film's core themes and is inappropriate given the game's younger demographic. The author suggests that not all popular IPs are suitable for Fortnite collaborations, especially when the marketing fails to grasp the source material's context.
Unity demonstrates 'an Unreal character running through a Unity world' for the first time
Unity demonstrated a Unity Engine game running natively within an Unreal Engine game, showcasing a step towards an interconnected gaming ecosystem. This collaboration with Epic Games aims to allow Unity developers to publish their games within Fortnite, with a new integration planned for early access in 2027. The demonstration featured an Unreal character running through a Unity world with synchronized physics, lighting, and input.
Jimothy, a particularly round raccoon and the internet's latest sensation, has now broken into games
Jimothy, a round raccoon that has gone viral online, is now being featured in various video games. Titles like World of Warcraft, RuneScape, Dead by Daylight, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, The Sims, and Halo have created renders or in-game depictions of the popular animal. The article speculates that Fortnite might also feature Jimothy in the future.
Fortnite reveals Pokemon-like "creature-based games" in upcoming new update, and you can play it this week
Fortnite is launching a new update on Thursday, July 23, featuring "Cuddles and Chaos Collection" which introduces creature-based games with "Sidekicks" in a Pokemon-like style. The update promises fierce battles, adventures, and deep bonds, with conservationist Maya Higa involved in live events. This new collection is reportedly built using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 ports were both in the top 10 US PlayStation games last week despite cheating…
Despite significant fan complaints regarding pricing, lack of crossplay, and rampant cheating, the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 have charted in the top 10 most played games in the US. Nostalgia for the titles proved strong enough to overcome these issues, with Black Ops debuting at ninth and Black Ops 2 at sixth place.
What is the release date of Cube Sprites in Fortnite?
Epic Games will introduce Cube Sprites to Fortnite on Thursday, July 23, starting at 6 AM PT. These new collectibles will grant players the Overdrive effect while in the storm, potentially enabling new tactical approaches. The article anticipates eight new Sprites based on datamines.
From Game Pass to Free Sweeps Slots: The Free Gaming Models Xbox Players Should Try
Xbox offers various gaming models to fit modern lifestyles, including subscription services like Xbox Game Pass for discovering new titles and cloud gaming for cross-device play. Free-to-play games such as Fortnite and Rocket League foster community, while casual browser games provide quick entertainment between longer sessions. These flexible options allow players to seamlessly integrate gaming into their daily routines.
How to get the Pollo Sprite in Fortnite
The Pollo Sprite cosmetic in Fortnite is currently only obtainable by receiving it from another player. Epic Games has announced that next week, the Pollo Sprite will be added to normal loot pools, accessible through Rare and Sprite chests, making it easier for players to acquire.
What time is Shiny Hour in Fortnite?
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 is featuring a special in-game event called Shiny Hour, which will occur twice on July 18th. The event provides players with opportunities to collect various "Sprites" and includes special items like the Batman Grapple Gun. Specific times for the event are provided in Pacific and Eastern Time, as well as British Summer Time.
I didn't expect Stranger Than Heaven to have such deep, satisfying combat
A hands-on demo of Stranger Than Heaven focused exclusively on its unique combat system, which utilizes a dual-controller scheme for precise limb control. This intricate combat, combined with intelligent enemy AI and challenging boss encounters, has generated significant excitement for the game's release, despite limited information on its story and world.
I’m giving up on modern gaming and I know I’m not the only one - Reader’s Feature
A long-time gamer expresses disillusionment with the modern gaming industry, citing the shift from complete, creative experiences to live service models, microtransactions, and endless monetization. The author feels current trends alienate veteran players and that younger generations are indoctrinated into a system that prioritizes profit over artistic integrity. This sentiment leads the author to abandon modern gaming in favor of retro titles and physical media.
Does anyone know how to drive this thing?
The article critiques the current state of the video game industry, highlighting a perceived lack of direction and a focus on short-term profits over sustainable development. It points to Sony's struggles with live-service games and Microsoft's costly acquisition spree and subsequent layoffs as examples of poor management. The author argues that this trend of layoffs and uncertainty is detrimental to game development and player experience, contrasting it with companies like Capcom and Larian that have maintained stability and achieved success.
Fortnite announces The Odyssey collab just in time for the film's release
Fortnite is collaborating with Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, The Odyssey, coinciding with the movie's release on July 17, 2026. The collaboration will feature characters like Matt Damon's Odysseus and Benny Safdie's Agamemnon in the game's battle royale mode. Epic Games has released a teaser trailer showcasing recreated scenes from the film with Fortnite's signature graphics.
Where to find the Vini Jr Sprite in Fortnite
This guide explains how to find the Vini Jr Sprite in Fortnite by opening Rare Chests, which have a low spawn rate but a higher chance of dropping valuable loot. These chests can be found in important map locations like named places of interest, boss areas, and vaults. The article also mentions that Sprite Power Hours, which occur on weekends, offer increased chances of finding rare Sprites.
Matt Damon, now a Fortnite skin, once turned down 'a bunch of money' to appear in a Bourne game because they…
Matt Damon, now a skin in Fortnite, revealed he once turned down a significant offer to appear in The Bourne Conspiracy game. He lobbied for the game to be more like the puzzle-adventure Myst instead of a first-person shooter, but the developers declined. Damon also expressed interest in video games and VR during a 2016 Reddit AMA, noting his fascination with their storytelling potential.
