Summary

  • Nintendo crossovers in Fortnite have been elusive due to Nintendo's strict protection of its IPs, as well as the potential challenge of making Nintendo characters work with the game's hitbox constraints.
  • The recently released LEGO Fortnite may provide a potential opening for a Nintendo collaboration, as the more cartoony and family-friendly style would be a better fit for Nintendo characters.
  • The existence of LEGO sets for Mario and the upcoming LEGO Animal Crossing sets could inspire the integration of Nintendo characters like Mario and Tom Nook into Fortnite, potentially opening the door for future LEGO Fortnite and Nintendo crossovers.

Epic Games’ hugely successful battle royale title Fortnite has crossed over with a frankly absurd amount of entertainment franchises, and games are no exception. Horror icons like Isaac Clarke from Dead Space have crossed paths with literal gods like Kratos and super soldiers like Master Chief. Nathan Drake has searched for treasures on the island alongside Lara Croft, Jink and Vi have made the jump from League of Legends, and Borderlands’ Psychos will occasionally be spotted within matches. However, Nintendo crossovers have continued to elude the game, even if there is a small chance that this could change thanks to its new LEGO mode.

Admittedly, it is tough to imagine any Nintendo collaboration coming to fruition given just how protective the company has been over its IPs. Fortnite head Saxs Persson just recently discussed how Epic Games has long hoped that such a team-up would happen, but Epic’s attempts to woo the company have led to no such partnership. Still, there is now a small bit of hope that this dream could come true for Epic Games, and it is all thanks to the recently released survival game LEGO Fortnite.

Nintendo’s LEGO Collaboration Could Extend To Fortnite

LEGO Animal Crossing Second Wave Sets

A Traditional Nintendo and Fortnite Collaboration Would Be Tough to Pull Off

Aside from Samus from Metroid, it is hard to imagine many of Nintendo’s iconic characters fitting into Epic Games’ hit battle royale offering. While the game has certainly offered some slightly smaller and larger skins, the need to keep hitboxes relatively similar has meant that overly big or tiny skins have been left out of the game. Since Nintendo would be unlikely to allow something as drastic as the muscular Peter Griffin redesign to happen to one of its characters, it is hard to imagine someone as small as Mario or Luigi running around the island. Link would be tough to pull off as well, as even if a more mature look like the Twilight Princess version was used, Nintendo would likely be bothered to see him using a gun.

If a Nintendo crossover did happen, Epic Games could just try to be selective about the characters it uses to make sure they suit the vibe of regular Fortnite. Since Bayonetta wields guns regularly, just like Samus, the two would be safe additions that do not feel out of place.

LEGO’s Nintendo Sets Could Inspire Fortnite Content

With a giant, cartoony Mario or a gun-toting Zelda sure to be problematic, it is not hard to grasp why the Fortnite and Nintendo crossover has yet to happen. Fortunately, the family friendly LEGO Fortnite is a much more viable place for Mario and Zelda characters to appear. Not only do characters wield swords and bows instead of the usual guns, meaning Link would feel natural in the game, but everyone being a LEGO minifigure would mean a smaller character like Mario would work as well. And while LEGO sets for Zelda have yet to become a reality, Mario ones already exist, making him and any associated characters easy to integrate into the game.

What makes such a pairing feel even more believable is the upcoming LEGO Animal Crossing sets. To hype up the release of these real life bundles, perhaps LEGO could work with Nintendo and Epic Games to get minifigures like LEGO Tom Nook and Isabelle added to Fortnite. While they would be exclusive to LEGO Fortnite, having them in the game at all would be a big deal, and Epic could add some fun emotes and other cosmetics referencing Animal Crossing. After adding Animal Crossing minifigures, Mario ones could come next, with future LEGO and Nintendo crossovers also making their way to Fortnite. Obviously, this is only wishful thinking, as there is nothing to suggest it will actually happen, but it could be a fun way to get around any potential crossover problems.

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LEGO Fortnite Odyssey
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Survival
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Systems
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Released
December 7, 2023
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Epic Games
Publisher(s)
Epic Games
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
LEGO
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Explore vast, open worlds where the magic of LEGO® building and Fortnite collide.

​​​​Collect food and resources, craft items​, build shelter and battle enemies solo or​ team up​ with up to seven friends.

​Get creative in building and ​customizing​​​ your ultimate home base​ using LEGO® elements collected from the world around you​, then recruit villagers to gather materials and help survive the night. Gear up and drop into deep caves in search of rare resources and hidden areas.

Genre(s)
Survival