The Weeknd will headline the first-ever ‘Fortnite Festival’ event | CNN

CNN
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Fortnite, the online battle royale video game, is teaming up with best-selling singer The Weeknd for his first “Fortnite Festival” appearance on Saturday.

The in-game event will be a virtual music festival featuring several artists including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kendrick Lamar.

The hit online multiplayer game’s festival comes just over a week after rapper Eminem’s virtual concert for the game’s Big Bang event, which launches the new Chapter 5: Season 1.

Produced by Epic Games and released in 2017, Fornite is a free-to-play online multiplayer game that is routinely updated with progressive seasons.

Key features of Fortnite often include co-op cosmetics like weapon skins, “skins” – or character outfits – and “emotes” that allow players to activate moves using in-game music like popular TikTok dances (“griddy” refers to after killing To a fan favorite). Each season of the game, which typically lasts around 90 days, can introduce new maps, game modes or cosmetic items.

The game has historically called for partnerships with artists, TV shows, films, and even other video games to promote new releases.

Saturday’s festival will introduce a new music mode to Fortnite, allowing players to play an instrument of their choice in sync with a purchasable “jam track.” Famous “jam songs” from The Weeknd – such as his hits “The Hills” and “Save Your Tears” – will be available for purchase in the game’s item shop. Fortnite is also releasing several The Weeknd skins, picks, and emotes starting Saturday to honor the festival’s headliner.

The Weeknd himself is releasing branded collaborative merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, and the singer’s Fortnite character.

Players can tune in on Saturday for the chance to play guitar or sing vocals like The Weeknd himself.

The Weeknd is coming off a stellar year. In March, he was named the most popular musician on the planet by Guinness World Records, coming off his record-breaking “After Hours Til Dawn” world tour.

Previous Fortnite collaborations have included a Bad Bunny “emote” during Coachella, Disney+’s “Ahsoka” missions and a variety of “Spidey skins” during the “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” theatrical trailer.

While Fortnite is best known for its third-person shooter mode, Epic Games is expanding its portfolio with LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing.