Former Epic Games Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard has disclosed that Nintendo’s unwillingness to allow its characters to grace other consoles has thwarted the possibility of playable Nintendo characters in Fortnite. Despite Epic Games’ enthusiasm for incorporating Nintendo characters into the game, Nintendo reportedly demands exclusivity, restricting the characters’ presence to the Nintendo Switch platform. This approach has been evident in previous crossovers, such as Rocket League’s Nintendo-themed vehicles available exclusively on Switch.
Mustard’s revelation stems from behind-the-scenes negotiations at Epic Games, where he acknowledged Nintendo’s reservations about its characters appearing on non-Nintendo platforms. Nintendo’s stance stems from the desire to maintain exclusivity, ensuring that its characters remain synonymous with their own platforms.
Epic Games, however, prioritizes inclusivity, seeking to provide a consistent Fortnite experience across all platforms and devices. According to Mustard, the company is committed to ensuring that content is accessible to all players, regardless of their chosen platform.
While Nintendo’s strategy has been observed in previous crossovers, it remains a possibility that the company could reconsider its stance in the future. However, for the time being, fans should not anticipate seeing beloved Nintendo characters like Bowser emerging victorious in Fortnite’s battle royale matches.
Meanwhile, Fortnite continues to expand its roster of crossover characters, recently welcoming familiar faces from Avatar: The Last Airbender. As the game continues to evolve, players can expect a steady stream of collaborations and content updates, further solidifying Fortnite’s position as a pop culture crossover powerhouse.
