In a recent interview, former Fortnite lead Donald Mustard shed light on why the battle royale has never featured characters from Nintendo’s beloved Metroid franchise. According to Mustard, Nintendo has been hesitant to allow its characters, including iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran, to appear on platforms other than its own. This exclusivity policy poses a challenge for Fortnite, which is available on a wide range of devices, including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices.
Mustard explained that Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, prioritizes providing a consistent experience across all platforms. This means that players should be able to enjoy the same gameplay and content regardless of their chosen device. However, if Nintendo characters were to appear exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, it would disrupt Fortnite’s cross-platform philosophy.
Mustard also noted that Nintendo has been receptive to the idea of collaborating with Fortnite, but only if its characters remain exclusive to its own platforms. This approach is not feasible for Fortnite, which thrives on its multi-platform accessibility. As a result, the highly anticipated addition of Samus Aran and other Nintendo heroes to the Fortnite roster remains elusive.
While Mustard has since left Epic Games, it is possible that Nintendo’s stance on exclusivity may have evolved since then. However, based on the former Fortnite lead’s insights, it appears that the inclusion of Nintendo characters in the battle royale is unlikely in the near future.
