Last year, Fortnite captivated players with its widely acclaimed Chapter 6, Season 1, which drew inspiration from Japanese culture, showcasing stunning aesthetics and exciting crossovers. Now, as we enter Chapter 6, Season 2, titled “Lawless,” players will find themselves in a gritty, crime-infested location known as Crime City.

In a surprising move, Fortnite revealed the entire lineup of battle pass skins ahead of the season launch next week. However, first impressions indicate that this battle pass may fall short of expectations, possibly ranking as one of the least impressive collections I have seen—unless some unique alternate styles manage to elevate the offerings.

Featured above (view larger image), are the notable characters we can expect: a new gangster-style Midas, a Dill pickle rapper heavily promoted in marketing campaigns, and the iconic Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat, who may see a companion crossover with Scorpion later in the season.

While these skins leave much to be desired, there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of a character called Wolf, who sports a cool cap that gives him a distinct vibe. However, the female skins seem disappointingly basic, especially when compared to the innovative Fortnite originals available today. They resemble early-game skins that require upgrades to become worthwhile. Ideally, these will feature alternate styles, but I can’t say I’m eager to play as a pickle rapper, and I believe other iterations of Midas offer more flair than this one.

As for Sub Zero? While acceptable, he appears to be a very stripped-down, original version of the character, lacking the depth seen in some of Fortnite’s other crossovers. It’s possible there will be modernized alternative styles, but my enthusiasm is waning. I can only hope he has cooler ice effects to redeem him.

In contrast to the Japanese-themed crossovers from Season 1, the connection between Mortal Kombat’s iconic characters and this season’s crime theme is unclear. With the anticipation of Grand Theft Auto 6 launching this year, I can’t help but wonder if Fortnite might secure a collaboration with GTA, bringing some legendary characters into the mix. However, I remain cautiously optimistic.

Feedback on this season’s theme has been lukewarm, with a sense of déjà vu as players engage in vault raids for loot yet again—a concept we’ve seen multiple times. The game’s player base isn’t on the verge of collapse, but I can’t recall feeling this uninspired by a seasonal preview in recent memory. Let’s see how it unfolds when the new season kicks off next week.

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Explore my science fiction novels, including the Herokiller series and also check out The Earthborn Trilogy.