Get ready for an epic Fortnite event on November 30 featuring Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Spice, and even the late Juice WRLD.
Usually, Fortnite concerts are like wild, colorful rides, much like when Travis Scott or Ariana Grande took the virtual stage. However, this one is unique because Juice WRLD, who left us in 2019, will appear, marking the first time Fortnite uses a late artist’s image, which is also a hot topic in Hollywood lately.
Epic’s global partnerships head, Nate Nanzer, discussed this bold decision to bring Juice WRLD to Fortnite during a recent chat. He explained how Epic had dreamed of this moment for a while, waiting for the perfect time to honor the artist.
“It’s something that our players have been asking for for years and years and years, and we’ve wanted to do it, but we wanted to find the right moment,” Nanzer said. “We obviously want to do it in the most respectful way possible. We worked very closely with his mom and his label, and we were able to find the right moment where it felt right, around this event, and he has new music coming out, so all the stars kind of aligned around this moment.”
Even though Juice WRLD loved playing Fortnite, some folks might feel weird about using his likeness this way. It’s a bit like Robert Downey Jr. saying he doesn’t want anyone making an AI version of him, even after he’s gone. I guess fans just want to keep things real. Remember that Tupac “hologram” at Coachella?
In the Fortnite world, not many seem upset about Juice WRLD joining the event. Sure, some people feel iffy about it, but most players, especially the younger ones, are excited. They see it as a cool tech thing, while older folks might think it’s crossing a line.
“Our community loves his music. We have data [that shows he is] still extremely popular. And I would say, I can’t quantify this, but when I look at Reddit threads, or Discord chats, or Twitter threads, Juice WRLD comes up over and over and over again. I mean, people have made Juice WRLD concerts in Fortnite Creative and [Unreal Engine for Fortnite].”
Nanzer believes Juice WRLD’s fans will enjoy the event. “We’re hopeful. We know our players have been asking for it, so there’s a lot of pressure to really deliver it the right way. I think people are really gonna love what we have coming, like, I think it’s done in an awesome way. I think if you’re a Juice WRLD fan, you’re gonna feel good about it,” he said.
Juice WRLD’s mom, Carmela Wallace, helped with this project. She shared her thoughts, saying:
“Jarad always loved to play Fortnite – it was more than just entertainment for him, it was a way to connect with others. From a young age, video games were a part of how he bonded with friends and family, and being in Fortnite is an incredible tribute to that connection. I know he would be overjoyed to see how his love for games continues to bring people together across different spaces, just like his music does.”
The question of when it’s okay to use someone who’s passed away in digital form won’t wrap up with this event. Nanzer mentioned that Epic wants music to be everywhere in Fortnite, which could lead to more debates. There’s even chatter about future events featuring artists like XXXTentacion, who was tragically killed in 2018.
Fortnite is not just a game; it’s a big deal worldwide. Other games often try to copy its successful trends. It started as a survival game but now shapes pop culture itself. As Epic keeps pushing boundaries, it’s creating a future we might not be ready for, but it’s happening anyway.
Editor’s note: Remarks from Mrs. Wallace were added to the body of this story shortly after publishing.
