Looks like Chappell Roan is hot to go for a new collaboration with Fortnite. In an interview with BBC Radio 1‘s Jack Saunders this week, the 26-year-old singer revealed that not only is Epic’s online shooter her current obsession, but that her chart-topping 2024 single, “Good Luck, Babe!” will soon be coming to the battle royale game as an emote.
In the interview, Roan said that pairing up video games with an edible is a go-to for a “really good time” when staying in to unwind, before the discussion turned to her music appearing in-game. Roan was quick to note that her energetic pop anthem, “Hot to Go!” is already a part of the Fortnite ecosystem, having been released back in 2023 as part of Chapter 5: Season 4’s seasonal content. From there, the singer mentioned the next track’s inclusion, saying, “I don’t know if it’s out yet, but I think ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ is also gonna be a little dance on there.”
As part of the introduction of Fortnite Festival in late 2023, many mainstream artists have released licensed music in the game’s larger ecosystem, either as Jam Tracks that can be played in the platform’s Rock Band-like festival mode, or as short snippets of songs that can be used in matches and lobbies accompanied by their own choreography and dance moves. Currently, the track “Hot to Go!” is available, allowing players’ avatars to gesticulate H-O-T-T-O-G-O in others’ faces.
As of now, no official confirmation has been made from Epic Games, although the Fortnite developer generally remains tightlipped about musical collaborations until just days before updates are dropped to the public.
But while her music has made its way into Fortnite, Roan noted that she wants more — namely, her own in-game character skin. Asked about whether she’s currently playing the recently released Ballistic mode (a first-person shooter variation of the game), the singer rejected the notion that she’d want to experience the game without seeing her prized premium avatar: Ariana Grande.
“But [I] wouldn’t get to see my Ariana Grande character. No, no, no, no! I paid for that skin.”
Ariana Grande skins from Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 7 (2021).
Epic Games
Regarding potentially getting her own custom avatar, Roan made a plea directly to the game’s developers. “That’s what I’m going to use this interview for,” Roan said, speaking to the camera, “please give me a skin — please.”
Musing on what her character’s design could look like, Roan joked that she’d leave it up to her Discord community to decide, before pitching a version resembling her green Statue of Liberty ensemble from the Governors Ball 2024 (“Maybe I’d have a little apple bong as the backpack”). She also joked about having a crossbow per her performance at the 2024 MTV VMAs.
Although the singer is keen on getting her visage into Fortnite, it’s mostly about enjoying the aesthetic; she isn’t heavily committed to the competitive nature of the game. “I play on Nintendo Switch,” she said, “that’s how seriously I take it.”