Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming

Fortnite collaborates with Balenciaga amid cultural appropriation controversy

DeAngelo Epps
By

Epic Games announced that a new fashion collaboration with Balenciaga is coming to Fortnite, its hugely popular battle royale game. The new drop dresses four Fortnite original characters in new Balenciaga clothing. However, the timing appears to be a little strange given Balenciaga’s current cultural appropriation controversy and Fortnite‘s recent Martin Luther King Jr. event.

Fortnite is well-known for bringing any and everything that it can into its metaverse. From Ferraris and Ariana Grande to Thanos and Superman, it’s not surprising to see a major fashion brand pop up in the item. The collaboration features new outfits, back bling, and cosmetics based on the brand. Fortnite has added a community-made hub where players can enter a virtual Balenciaga store.

A characetr in Balenciaga clothing dances in Fortnite.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Balenciaga collaboration comes only weeks after the game’s Martin Luther King Jr. March Through Time event, which smacks of poor timing. Balenciaga recently came under fire for releasing a pair of sweatpants that spurred accusations of cultural appropriation. Marquita Gammage, professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Northridge, told CNN that these pants, modeled after the sagging trend, are an exploitation of “Black culture, with the hopes of securing major profits.”

Recommended Videos

Sagging pants have often been used to criminalize Black Americans. The fact that the item was sold at $1,190 and dubbed “high-end fashion” drew wide criticism from those who saw it as an act of cultural appropriation.

Balenciaga Brings Digital Fashion to Fortnite

Fortnite heavily promoted its March Through Time event, which strove to educate its young players about the Civil Rights Movement. However, hard decisions have to be made if corporations are going to take steps to show support for POC communities. Those decisions can include reassessing relationships with brands like Balenciaga.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
DeAngelo Epps
DeAngelo Epps
De'Angelo Epps is a gaming writer passionate about the culture, communities, and industry surrounding gaming. His work ranges…
How to mark enemies in Fortnite
Character jumping while holding Epic weapon in Fortnite.

Marking enemies is a challenge that has popped repeatedly when a new Fortnite season or limited-time quest list drops and it always seems to give players a little trouble. On top of it being a challenge, marking enemies is a useful mechanic when you're playing with friends.

So how do you complete this challenge? Here's how to mark enemies easily in Fortnite.
How to mark enemies

Read more
How to unlock Darth Maul in Fortnite
Darth Maul in Fortnite.

The new Fortnite Star Wars crossover is here, and it features plenty of new things to do and unlock (including lightsabers!). This event introduces a handful of Star Wars character skins, including Clone Troopers, Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, and the fan-favorite Darth Maul. However, unlocking Darth Maul isn't as straightforward as you might expect. In this guide, we'll show you everything you'll need to know to unlock this character in Fortnite.
How to unlock Darth Maul

First, you need to purchase the Premium Reward Track from the main menu to unlock Darth Maul. It costs 1,000 V-Bucks, but gives you access to a slew of unlockables, including the aforementioned skin. Once you buy the Premium Reward Track, you then need to complete Star Was Quests (found under the Find the Force submenu) to earn Galactic Reputation.

Read more
How to find lightsabers in Fortnite
Character with lightsaber in Fortnite.

The latest Fortnite event is a massive Star Wars collaboration, and with it, comes a slew of new character skins, weapons, and quests. With it being a Star Wars collab, players can expect a new set of lightsabers to wield, which can be obtained during battle royale matches. But where can you find lightsabers and how do they work during the latest event? Here's what you need to know about finding lightsabers in Fortnite.
Where to find lightsabers

Finding the various lightsabers is a little tricky since their locations are random for each match. To find them, you need to visit holograms of either Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, or Darth Maul around the map. All three appear during any given match, but their locations are random.

Read more