“Fortnite” is giving fans the chance to play a set at Coachella — virtually, that is. Players will be able to experience the festival’s first-ever virtual stages in Fortnite Festival, and are invited to explore a slew of new themed content, including jam tracks from the festival’s performers and new themed outfits.
This marks the third consecutive year that Epic Games’ popular battle royale shooter has collaborated with Coachella. The festival will return to the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, Calif., for its 23rd installment on the weekends of April 12-14 and April 19-21.
Fortnite Festival’s Jam Stage will get a themed takeover, complete with recognizable Coachella landmarks including Le Grande Wheel, Spectra Tower and more. On the Festival Main Stage, players can step into the spotlight and perform Jam Tracks from featured artists performing at this year’s festival alongside show visuals inspired by Coachella stages.
Blur’s “Song 2,” Bleachers’ “I Wanna Get Better,” Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red,” Sublime’s “What I Got,” Taking Back Sunday’s “MakeDamnSure,” Eslabon Armada and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Basila Sola,” Lil Uzi Vert and Oh Wonder’s “The Way Life Goes” and Pink Pantheress and Ice Spice’s “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” will be included in the featured rotation from April 11 at 8 p.m. ET to April 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
Epic Games
Beyond Fortnite Festival, Coachella is expanding the vision introduced by last year’s Coachella Island with the launch of the all-new Sahara Island. Created with Unreal Editor for “Fortnite” (UEFN), the virtual replica of Coachella’s Sahara Tent debuts alongside the festival’s new physical Sahara Tent.
The island’s new virtual stage and musical mini-game will feature takeovers from Coachella 2024 artists Grimes and DJ Snake, giving “Fortnite” players a Coachella experience that mirrors the music and art taking place in Indio. In addition, at-home viewers watching the Sahara Tent on the Coachella YouTube livestream during Weekend 2 will see an augmented reality experience powered by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine that blends the elements of Sahara Island and the real-life performances.
Exploring Sahara Island, players will be able to discover a hidden Coke Studio “Remix Room,” and a sound studio where they can experience “Fortnite’s” new Patchwork tools and create songs together.
“In our pursuit to bring Coachella to a broader online audience, we’re activating across ‘Fortnite’ and the Epic Games ecosystem to create new in-game music experiences that allow online fans to get closer to the festival than ever before,” said Coachella innovation lead Sam Schoonover. “This partnership enables us to expand the festival virtually in ways that aren’t possible anywhere else, making Coachella more accessible to fans around the globe.”
Coachella-themed outfits from the last two years will return to the “Fortnite” item shop with the introduction of two new additions: Horizon and Cosma, an ode to Coachella’s popular astronaut art installation.
Epic Games
J Balvin also returns to “Fortnite” in a fiery new incarnation. To celebrate his upcoming Coachella performance, the Inferno Skeleton Balvin outfit comes to the item shop starting the second weekend of Coachella – April 18 at 8 p.m. ET – until April 22 at 8 p.m. ET. It will be available individually or in a bundle, which also includes “Mi Gente” as a jam track.
New emotes inspired by Coachella 2024 performers Doja Cat and Sabrina Carpenter will also hit the shop. All outfits, cosmetic items, instruments and emotes will be available for purchase in the “Fortnite” item shop starting April 11 at 8 p.m. ET until April 20 at 8 p.m. ET.
