Multiple Disney Characters in Fortnite Won’t Use Guns, But Fans are Getting it All Wrong

Fortnite has never been a stranger to some of the wildest collaborations. From Marvel superheroes to popular Shōnen legends, the game has made a name for itself by blending characters from vastly different universes into chaotic, fun-filled battles.

Recently, though, the game’s collaborations with Disney, in particular, have grown quite a bit, most notably through Marvel, Star Wars, and more recently, Pixar content. But it appears Disney is planning something that could fundamentally change how the game incorporates its characters. Unfortunately, however, people are up in arms about it, confused and worried over how this will impact the game’s core experience.

So, what’s stirring the pot for the community? Well, Epic Games’ EVP, Saxs Persson, recently mentioned that certain Disney characters in the upcoming “persistent universe” collaboration won’t use guns in Fortnite, saying how:

“Not every outfit will be able to do everything, [for example,] a minifig doesn’t hold a gun. Brands should be able to enforce the brand guidelines to the degree that they’re comfortable with that brand being associated with particular ratings.”

This has, understandably, led to some backlash, with people fantasizing about running around as the family-friendly characters of Disney and committing all sorts of war crimes on the game’s battleground.

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Along with this, the main problem people seem to have is how the very idea of having non-combatant characters placed in a game where shooting is central has people is kind of a head-scratcher when you think about it.

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However, most people are getting it wrong: Mickey Mouse’s company isn’t aiming to change the mechanics of battle royale, or even the level of agency people have over their skins. What’s more likely is the creation of a separate mode similar to the structure of the Infinity games.

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This new space will likely allow players to explore, interact, and create without focusing on combat, letting Disney maintain its family-friendly image without infringing on core gameplay.

In a way, the entertainment giant might agree with Epic to offer skins and characters for free during special events, allowing players to enjoy their favorite Disney heroes in non-combat settings.

So, for those worried that their “pew-pew” shooting experience will be disrupted—don’t be.

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All your battle royale skins, characters, and mechanics will stay firmly in place in Fortnite’s core modes. This new mode will exist parallel to, rather than within, the core battle royale gameplay.

Now, keeping all this in mind, there is one thing that’s somewhat bugging us as well. What if the Mickey Mouse-owning company does decide to bring its characters with a pay-to-play model, even for its own game modes? After all, it’s Disney we’re talking about.

Suppose the company was to offer character skins for purchase. In that case, there are a few ways the characters could still fit into Fortnite, even without guns being involved.

For instance, characters could have special abilities that replace traditional weapons—perhaps Elsa could freeze enemies, or Mickey could wield magic instead of firearms. Not only would this keep the characters true to their characterization, but it might still maintain the game’s competitive edge.

However, Epic would need to tread carefully if this happens. After all, adding exclusive moves or abilities could upset the balance in competitive gameplay, leading to frustration among players.

Still, it’s important to reiterate that the game isn’t about to abandon its core identity. People can continue to enjoy wild crossovers, where characters like Spider-Man can still shoot an assault rifle at Kratos in a battle royale, all while Disney hopefully maintains its own space within the game.

But with all that said, what are your thoughts on all this? Did you also need clarification on Persson’s statement? Let us know in the comments below!