Why the Fortnite x Marvel Rivals Collaboration Was Destined to Fail

The collaboration between Fortnite and Marvel Rivals had tremendous potential that, unfortunately, has not been realized. Instead of introducing fresh and exciting content, we find ourselves with yet another version of Doom.

The announcement of this alliance sparked significant enthusiasm. The prospect of Marvel Rivals, celebrated for its striking character designs, joining forces with Fortnite sounded like a brilliant combination for gamers. However, the reality turned out to be quite different.

The crossover event, which runs from December 6, 2024, to January 6, 2025, features the Doom 2099 skin, with the optional Galacta Staff pickaxe available for 800 V-Bucks. Though this marks Fortnite’s inaugural collaboration with Marvel Rivals, the outcome has left many, including 12,500 players who rated the Doom 2099 skin poorly, feeling disillusioned.

Disappointment Amid Expectations: Another Doom Skin

Doctor Doom in Marvel Rivals — NetEase Games

The main issue here is that Fortnite players have just spent two entire seasons engulfed in Doom-themed content. During Chapter 5’s Seasons 4 and 5, everything from map locations to loot and storylines was saturated with this villain. Consequently, by the time this collaboration launched, many players were ready for a change.

Moreover, this isn’t the first or second Doom skin that Fortnite has released; Doom 2099 represents the third iteration. Previous Doom skins weren’t particularly well-received either. Many gamers generally shy away from bulkier skins that can block their field of vision and feature larger hitboxes. Doom 2099 simply reiterates this impracticality, rendering it both uninspired and unsuitable for competitive play.

It’s perplexing why Fortnite chose to stick with such a well-trodden character instead of opting for a new hero. Introducing fresh faces like Luna Snow, Psylocke, or even Bruce Banner with his Hulk transformation could have provided much-needed excitement.

Interestingly, Doom isn’t even part of Marvel Rivals’ Season 1 character lineup. If Fortnite intended to experiment with unexpected choices, Galacta or any number of other characters would have made a much stronger impression than yet another version of Doom.

Reports on Reddit label it as “a bulky shop skin”and “forgettable.”One player encapsulated the sentiment well, stating: “Third Doom skin + shop skin + not in Marvel Rivals + ugly = nobody uses it.”

As a fan of both Fortnite and Marvel Rivals, I genuinely hope for the success of both franchises. However, this collaboration clearly requires a fresh perspective. New and innovative skins could boost player engagement and ultimately drive stronger sales. Such an approach would be advantageous for both the gaming community and the bottom line. Here’s hoping for a return of beloved characters like Jinx to keep things lively.

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