Fortnite x Thunderbolts Collaboration: Top 5 Things To Know

The Fortnite x Thunderbolts collaboration is an intersection between Epic Games’ Fortnite and Marvel, timed to match the upcoming release in May 2025 of Marvel’s film Thunderbolts.

The two Marvel figures, Yelena Belova (White Widow) and Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) are brought in as playable skins for Fortnite.

In contrast to prior Marvel collaborations with Fortnite, where many skins featured designs based on their movie counterparts, the Thunderbolts skins take a different approach from their comic book look.

The Pen & Ink art style of the skins makes them bold, stylized, and hand-drawn in appearance compared to the photorealistic or movie-inspired skins that have come before.

For example, Winter Soldier’s appearance comes from his in Captain America: Brave New World, not the yet-to-be-seen Thunderbolts film, and White Widow’s appearance comes from a graphic version of him in the comics, not his MCU incarnation brought to life by Florence Pugh.

The Thunderbolts collaboration goes live in the Fortnite Item Shop on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. The White Widow and Winter Soldier skins will be available to buy individually or as a bundle, though exact pricing has not been revealed. Both skins include a selection of themed accessories, including:

• White Widow Outfit
• White Widow’s Pack Back Bling
• White Widow’s Fangs Pickaxe
• White Widow Wrap
• White Widow’s Mac Emote
• Winter Soldier Outfit
• Winter Soldier’s Spare Back Bling
• Armament Axe Pickaxe
• Winter Soldier Wrap
• Arm-Up Emote
• The Thunderbolts Cup: Get Skins for Free

This collaboration has a special twist in the form of an in-game event where players can gain some of the new cosmetics for free by taking part in the Thunderbolts Cup.

Set on April 25, 2025, from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM UTC, Thunderbolts Cup is a duos event that can be won by high-performing teams within every region and will get the White Widow (Pen & Ink) Outfit.

Also, any team reaching eight points will get the Winter Soldier Wrap unlocked, and acquiring 40 points awards the White Widow Wrap.

Participation necessitates that players must be at least 13 years of age, have multi-factor authentication activated, and an account level of 50 or above.

Top 5 Things to Know About the Fortnite x Thunderbolts Collaboration

1. Release Date and Timing

Fortnite x Thunderbolts release time and date and timing are fundamental factors that speak volumes of Epic Games’ and Marvel’s alliance. It is going live officially in Fortnite Item Shop on April 30, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) in two days before the release of the blockbuster movie Thunderbolts on theaters on May 2, 2025.

The timing of the collaboration takes advantage of the natural boost of energy and media coverage that comes with a big Marvel movie release.

When a blockbuster film like Thunderbolts comes out, the fans are excited to engage with the story and characters in every possible medium.

By releasing the Fortnite collaboration on the eve of the movie’s release, Epic Games capitalizes on this increased excitement, giving the players a special means of engaging with the world of the film interactively.

Since Fortnite has a worldwide player base, the 8:00 PM ET launch time is intended to work within several time zones so players from all over the globe can experience the new content at approximately the same time. For instance:

• The UK will see the release early on April 31 (1:00 AM BST).
• Indian players will find the update at around 12:30 AM IST May 1.
• In Pacific Time (US West Coast), the launch will be at 5:00 PM PT on April 30.

Prior to when the skins and cosmetics go on sale on April 30, Fortnite is having the Thunderbolts Cup competition on April 25, 2025. The competition is a warm-up to the full launch of the collaboration and provides gamers an opportunity to acquire some of the new items for no cost.

Also Read: Sabrina Carpenter Joining Fortnite Festival Season 8

2. Characters and Comic-Inspired Skins

One of the features of the Fortnite x Thunderbolts collaboration is the inclusion of two classic Marvel characters, Yelena Belova (White Widow) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), as playable skins.

What really differentiates this collaboration from other Marvel crossovers in Fortnite, however, is the special comic-book-inspired “Pen & Ink” art style employed to create these skins.

Yelena Belova (White Widow)

Yelena is an expert spy and assassin within the Marvel Universe and is typically aligned with the Black Widow heritage. In comic book lore, she has become the codename White Widow, and her personality is characterized as being agile, deadly in combat, and complicated.

Yelena’s appearance within Fortnite shows her increased popularity, since her character has been acted by Florence Pugh within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier)

Bucky Barnes is a popular Marvel character with deep history. One time Captain America’s best friend, Bucky was reimagined as the Winter Soldier, a brainwashed killer sporting a cybernetic arm. His narrative has numerous decades of Marvel comics and movies.

The Fortnite x Thunderbolts skins are interestingly not a copy of the characters’ appearance from the new Thunderbolts film. For instance:

• The Winter Soldier skin is taken from his look in the Captain America: Brave New World comic book series, not the movie version.
• The White Widow skin takes inspiration from Yelena’s comic book character and not Florence Pugh’s on-screen interpretation.

In addition to the two principal skins, the collaboration also features a set of themed accessories and cosmetics that enhance the Pen & Ink aesthetic:

• Back Blings: Character-themed backpacks or gear items that provide flair and depth to the skins.
• Pickaxes: Iconic weapons or tools designed to fit the aesthetics of the characters.
• Wraps: Weapon and vehicle skins that feature the Pen & Ink design motifs.
• Emotes: Character-specific animations that add to player expression and interaction.

3. How to Obtain the Skins and Items

One of the things for Fortnite players who want to take part in the Fortnite x Thunderbolts collaboration is knowing how to get the new skins and other cosmetic items involved.

The collaboration provides several paths to gain the content, including direct purchases and the possibility of earning items by playing the game.

The first way to acquire the Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes) and White Widow (Yelena Belova) skins and their themed gear is by shopping at the Fortnite Item Shop. Beginning April 30, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET, one will be able to buy either skin separately or bundled.

The White Widow and Winter Soldier skins are available for purchase by themselves. Each skin usually has a collection of matching cosmetic accessories like back blings, pickaxes, wraps, and emotes, which are either part of the pack or for sale separately.

In many cases, Fortnite provides packages that contain both characters and accessories at a lower price than purchasing each item separately. Packages offer an easy means for players to access the entire Thunderbolts-themed package.

To purchase these items, the players will have to use V-Bucks, the in-game currency of Fortnite. V-Bucks can be purchased using real money or are earned through play in small quantities.

Although there is no official announcement of pricing for the Thunderbolts skins and bundles, usual Marvel co-op skins in Fortnite cost between 1,500 and 2,000 V-Bucks per item, and bundles cost in proportion.

Along with the primary character sets, the partnership also features an assortment of themed cosmetics that support the gaming experience and enable players to personalize their loadouts:

• Back Blings: These are wearable items that are worn on the character’s back and tend to echo the character’s narrative or personality. For instance, White Widow’s Pack and Winter Soldier’s Spare are back blings specifically made to pair with their corresponding skins.
• Pickaxes: Thematically themed harvesting tools named to fit the themes of the characters, e.g., White Widow’s Fangs and Winter Soldier’s Armament Axe.
• Wraps: Skin for weapons and vehicles that bring the Pen & Ink comic-based look.
• Emotes: Unique character-themed animations like White Widow’s Mac and Winter Soldier’s Arm-Up emotes.

Aside from direct buying, Fortnite also has a competitive route to acquiring some of the Thunderbolts cosmetics for free through playing in the Thunderbolts Cup tournament. The event is on April 25, 2025, a couple of days before the skins can be purchased from the shop.

• Tournament Format: The Thunderbolts Cup is a duos tournament in which players group up to fight for points for eliminations and finishing positions.
• Rewards:
  • The White Widow Outfit can be unlocked for free by the best-performing teams from each region. This provides excellent players or competitive players with the opportunity to obtain the skin for free without the need to use V-Bucks.
  • Scoring a minimum of 8 points during the tournament will reward the Winter Soldier Wrap, and 40 points rewards the White Widow Wrap. The wraps enable players to personalize their weapons and vehicles with the Thunderbolts theme.
• Eligibility Requirements: To participate, players must meet certain criteria:
  • Be at least Level 50 in Fortnite.
  • Have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled on their Epic Games account for security purposes.
  • Be 13 years or older.
  • Have a valid Epic Games account in good standing.

4. Thunderbolts Cup Tournament and Free Rewards

The Thunderbolts Cup is a temporary, in-game competition taking place on April 25, 2025. Contrary to regular item shop releases, this event provides players with a chance to win special Thunderbolts-thememed cosmetics for free by playing and doing well in the tournament.

The Cup is a duos mode, and players will have to play together and compete against each other based on eliminations and match placements for points.

How the Tournament Works

• Format: Thunderbolts Cup is a duos competition, which usually runs for a few hours within a limited frame. Points are awarded for eliminations and top finishes in matches.
• Eligibility: To participate, players must:
  • Be at least 13 years old.
  • Have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled on their Epic Games account.
  • Be at least Level 50 in Fortnite.
  • Have an account in good standing.
• Scoring: Players are rewarded for eliminations and match positions, rewarding aggressive play and survival strategy alike.

The Thunderbolts Cup is unique because it lets players unlock cosmetics prior to when they will be available for purchase, and in a few instances, outright for free:

• White Widow (Pen & Ink) Outfit: The most successful teams from each region will gain access to this special skin for free.
• Winter Soldier Wrap: Any team that scores a minimum of eight points in the course of the tournament will get this wrap, leaving no one behind, even those who are less competitive.
• White Widow Wrap: Teams that achieve 40 points activate this other wrap, giving them a reward for good and continuous performance.

5. Community Excitement

The release of the Pen & Ink comic-styled skins for White Widow and Winter Soldier has been universally lauded by gamers.

This graphic, stylized treatment is a departure from the more realistic, film-accurate skins that were found in past Marvel collaborations.

Gamers love the nod to the comic book origins of the characters. The unique appearance sets these skins apart in the world of Fortnite.

Both Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes are popular Marvel characters with deep histories and devoted fan bases. The increased profile of Yelena within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, combined with Bucky’s established history as the Winter Soldier, makes the addition of these characters very appealing.

The chance to acquire the White Widow skin and other cosmetics for free via the Thunderbolts Cup tournament has revved up the competitive crowd. This strategy is rewarding to both skill and play.

It also makes things more inclusive since it permits individuals who don’t desire or have the capability to spend actual cash to also partake in unique content.

The timing of the collaboration, preceding the release of the Thunderbolts movie is a cultural moment that brings gaming and cinema together.

Audiences from both platforms are brought together, generating increased excitement and interest. The synergy inspires chatter, fan art, and social media activity.

Also Read: Fortnite x Star Wars Celebration: Top 5 Things to Know