With Fortnite, Epic Games achieved a worldwide hit that still attracts millions of players today, not only because of its Battle Royale but also due to its collaborations. But did you know that the developers initially did not want to bring crossovers into the game? A phone call changed everything.
Where did the info come from? At the Summer Game Fest 2025, there was also the event “The Game Business Live” where various backgrounds of video game development were discussed that you may not have heard of before.
One of those backgrounds was the development of Fortnite and how from an originally unique game with its own character, it became a gigantic collection full of crossovers. Epic Games initially had a different plan for the “Battle Royale” shooter, but a nearly 6-hour phone call completely changed the course of the developers.
Thanos changed Fortnite forever
What was that phone call about? In the call, the Russo brothers (directors of Avengers: Infinity War) were on the line with the then Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard of Epic Games. Donald was primarily responsible for determining the direction of Fortnite and thus had the power to decide what would happen with the “Battle Royale” shooter.
The call was about a crossover with Marvel. 2018 was the time when Avengers: Infinity War was set to hit theaters, and for the brothers, it was clear: Thanos should also appear in the hit “Fortnite”.
As AGBO’s president for interactive technology (the Russo brothers’ company), Pete Wanat revealed, the conversation with Donald was not so simple. Epic Games had a different plan for Fortnite: “Initially, it was stated that no, we are not interested in incorporating external characters into Fortnite. Joe and Anthony met and called Donald. It was supposed to be a half-hour conversation, but five and a half hours later, they were still talking about it.”
After the intense discussions, Donald eventually decided to go for the collaboration, and 7 years later, the original Fortnite has become one of the largest games on the market with the most crossovers.
What did Fortnite show with its deal? Fortnite was able to show two things with the deal:
- With crossovers, fans can be attracted beyond the Battle Royale
- People love to walk around in their video games with their favorite characters
According to Pete Wanat, their deal exploded the world regarding possible integrations of film, television, and games. However, Fortnite has not been the only brand to engage in crossovers since their attempt. Call of Duty, Diablo, and Monster Hunter are just a fraction of the brands that have followed in Fortnite’s footsteps.
It is remarkable how a game by Epic Games could change the course of video game development just because of a small decision. Besides the backgrounds of Fortnite, there is also information about how the Battle Royale genre actually came about. Here you can read more: An Irishman stuck in Brazil has ruined his marriage and has hardly any money, changes gaming forever
