Epic Games has partnered with Netflix‘s animated film KPop Demon Hunters, bringing characters and gameplay elements from the movie into Fortnite starting today (October 2).
“You ready for the takedown? Tomorrow we’ll show you how it’s done, done, done,” Fortnite wrote in an X post on Wednesday (October 1).
The collaboration introduces three character skins, HUNTR/X members Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who will feature in a dedicated game mode called Horde Rush: Demon Rush, which will run through November 1.
The update extends into Fortnite’s core Battle Royale and Zero Build modes, where players can deploy items drawn from the film. These include Rumi’s Empowered Sword, Zoey’s Golden Bubble Shield, Mira’s X-tra Spicy Ramyeon, and the Derpy Teleporter Mask, Fortnite said in an announcement via its social media pages. Players can also teleport around the Island with the Derpy Teleporter Mask in Battle Royale, Blitz, and Reload.
Through the partnership, Epic Games is also opening its creator tools to the KPop Demon Hunters intellectual property, allowing third-party developers to build custom experiences using officially licensed assets from the Netflix film, gaming news website IGN reported. This approach mirrors previous Fortnite collaborations with properties including Netflix’s Squid Game, AMC’s The Walking Dead, and Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The timing of the partnership comes amid the sustained momentum of KPop Demon Hunters since its summer release. Netflix revealed over a month ago that the film became its most-watched movie of all time, accumulating 236 million views. That figure has since grown to 325 million views, according to IGN.
Netflix has since released a sing-along version and theatrical screenings to capitalize on strong demand. The sing-along version scored box office victory in its first weekend in the US, earning about $18 million to $20 million in box office takings.
While there have been reports about a live-action adaptation, Director Maggie Kang told Comic Book Resources in a recent interview: “I think it will be so much more challenging to make [KPop Demon Hunters] live-action. I think it would be hard.”
For Fortnite, the partnership comes as it continues to expand its cross-media offerings, hosting virtual concerts and festivals that feature musicians. Over a month ago, English virtual band Gorillaz were named as the “icons” for Fortnite Festival Season 10, coming after the Season 9 Festival with Bruno Mars.
Gorillaz joined other major artists who have been featured as “icons” on Fortnite, including The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Metallica, Karol G, Snoop Dogg, Hatsune Miku, Bruno Mars, and Sabrina Carpenter.
In August, Epic Games partnered with Sony Music Entertainment to launch an immersive PARTYNEXTDOOR concert experience in Fortnite. The interactive event was developed in collaboration with Sony Immersive Music Studios and OVO Sound, Drake’s label. Sony Corporation has invested significantly in Epic Games, spending over $1 billion across multiple investment rounds since 2020 to acquire stakes in the Fortnite maker.
Sony’s animation arm Sony Pictures Animation produced KPop Demon Hunters and sold the distribution rights to Netflix.
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