Skip to main content

Fortnite is getting a new alien skin just in time for the Area 51 raid

The hype around the Area 51 raid has trickled over into the gaming world: Fortnite is about to get a new alien skin just in time for with the September 20 event.

Fortnite player s1l0x uncovered the new skin, or character outfit, which looks just like an alien — complete with an Area 51 badge on its chest and sleeve. It’s not clear when the so-called “Traveler” skin will be released, but it looks like it’s all set for the Area 51 raid this week.

The Area 51 Facebook event called, ‘’Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us’’ has captured the interest of 1.5 million people, and 2.1 million have RSVPed as attending the event. The event’s description reads, “We will all meet up in Rural Nevada and coordinate our parties. If we Naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Let’s see them aliens.”

Encrypted "Traveler" skin!

Likely will be released September 20th for the Area 51 meme!

HD: https://t.co/Ol4ywjP6je

Credit: @s1l0x pic.twitter.com/J0RaCFNPnP

— s1l0x (@s1l0x) September 17, 2019

While the event has gone viral, it’s extremely unlikely 2.5 million people will descend on the government’s most top-secret location. But that still hasn’t stopped Fortnite from cashing in on the joke event’s mass popularity.

Fortnite is known for including pop culture and current events references within the game. It’s included dance moves made famous by Snoop Dog and Seinfeld, licensed NFL football jerseys, and even had a Thanos skin to celebrate Avengers: Infinity War. Some of these inclusions got the game into some legal trouble, like last December when Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro sued Fortnite for allegedly stealing the “Carlton Dance.”

The game has offered players popular skins in the past like the Skull Trooper, a Bigfoot skin, a Marshmello skin based on the popular electronic music DJ, and more. Some are only available for a limited time as part of an event or holiday. As such, some of the best skins aren’t even available anymore.

Aside from the alien skin that was discovered, eagle-eyed gamers also found a female version of the Love Ranger Skin.

Fortnite skins can cost players anywhere from 800 to 2,000 in V-Bucks (virtual currency), depending on the skin’s rarity. In U.S. dollars, that equals about $8-$24.

Digital Trends reached out to Epic Games to confirm the new skin designs and when players can expect to see then in the game, and we’ll update this story once we hear back.

Editors' Recommendations

Allison Matyus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Allison Matyus is a general news reporter at Digital Trends. She covers any and all tech news, including issues around social…
How to get Alien Artifacts fast in Fortnite
how-to-get-alien-artifacts-fast-in-fortnite

Now that Fortnite chapter 2, season 7 is here, players will have plenty of new things to do, thanks to the slew of additional content added by Epic Games. This season is alien themed, and to coincide with that, you'll need to acquire Alien Artifacts, which serve as a form of currency that can be used to customize your Kymera alien. These Alien Artifacts aren't easy to find, though there are a couple of methods you can use to acquire them.

Recommended reading:

Read more
Can you still unlock the Galaxy skin in Fortnite?
how to refund fortnite skins

Fortnite is an ever-evolving game, featuring events and access to limited-time content. In 2018, Samsung announced a special partnership with Epic Games for the Android version of the game in accordance with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. People who preordered the new smartphone between August 10 and August 23, 2018, were given a special offer: A choice between a pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones or 15,000 V-bucks and an exclusive Galaxy Fortnite skin.

While that offer is no longer available, many are still wondering if you can unlock one of the best skins in battle royale.
Can you still unlock the Galaxy skin?
Unfortunately, the short answer is no, you are no longer able to unlock the Galaxy skin for Fortnite. The offer is no longer available. Afterward, Samsung did offer two additional skin promotions in its place, but those have expired as well. Some players have claimed that you're still able to gain access to the skin if you file a report with Epic Games, but using that method seems to be hit or miss.

Read more
Can you still unlock the iKONIK skin in Fortnite?

Fortnite is no stranger to exclusive, limited-time skins. Typically, Epic Games will give the community a specific amount of time to unlock or purchase certain outfits or emotes -- whether they be offered through partnerships with other companies or seasonal events, or simply for sale from the item shop. One of the most sought-after was the iKONIK skin, which was based on singer Jung Chanwoo/Chan from K-pop group iKON.

This skin and emote set was previously only obtainable by purchasing certain Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, or S10e smartphones in 2019 through a partnership with Samsung. You had to have pre-ordered one of select phones and downloaded the mobile version of Fortnite on the device to "purchase" the skin for $0 from the item shop. Now, in 2021, players are still wondering if this iKONIK skin is still obtainable, or if it'll make a return to the item shop.

Read more