Gorillaz in ‘Fortnite’
Courtesy of Epic Games
The world’s preeminent virtual rock band Gorillaz will finally make their Fortnite debut as the Season 10 headliners for “Fortnite Festival,” which premieres tomorrow, Aug. 26.
The animated group’s four members — Noodle, 2D, Russel Hobbs, and Murdoc Niccals — will all be available as playable characters in Fortnite and come with matching accessories. Some of the band’s biggest hits will be available to purchase as in-game Jam Tracks, too, including “Dare,” “Clint Eastwood,” and “On Melancholy Hill.” (“Dare” will also have its own separate choreographed dance move emote.)
Completing the tie-in is a revamped “Main Stage” area for Fortnite Festival that’s fully Gorillaz themed to make the headliners feel right at home. “It’s an honor for all of you that I am finally to be immortalized in my own fiefdom,” Murdoc quipped in a statement. “Watch out serfs, here I come.”
Fortnite Festival has featured an array of massive stars in recent years, with the likes of the Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Karol G, and Sabrina Carpenter all participating. Most recently, the Season Nine headliner was Bruno Mars, who joined the game as a playable character earlier this summer.
For Gorillaz, the Fortnite tie-in comes at a time of relative quiet for the band, who haven’t released a new album since 2023’s Cracker Island. But the group — which was founded by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett — is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year with a special exhibit in London, which opened earlier this month and runs through Sept. 3.
To further mark the occasion, Gorillaz will also play four special shows at the Copper Box Arena in London, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 2, and Sept. 3. These will be the band’s first gigs since Coachella 2023.
Earlier this year, Albarn did confirm that new Gorillaz music was imminent. “I’m finishing a new Gorillaz album,” he told Les Inrockuptibles. “One opera and one new Gorillaz album seems like enough for 2025! Unless someone accuses me of taking my foot off the gas!”
From Rolling Stone US.
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