The worlds of footwear and “Fortnite” are once again combining for a new in-game feature that highlights some of the most popular Nike and Air Jordan sneakers currently on the market.
Simply dubbed “Fortnite Kicks,” the in-game cosmetic feature has been teased by developer Epic Games since Nov. 4, when it announced that the upcoming Air Jordan 1 Retro “Black Toe Reimagined” would spearhead the new campaign. Advertised to go live Nov. 12 as part of the game’s Chapter 2 Remix update, the sneaker addition was delayed — not unlike the real-life release of the “Black Toe Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 Retro. The @FortniteStatus X account cited a “visual issue” as the reason for the postponement, but a new launch has not yet been confirmed.
While players wait for the problem to be fixed, a social media account dedicated to “Fortnite” leaks has discovered there are a number of other high-profile sneakers included in the launch.
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In addition to the “Black Toe Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 Retro, the game will also implement digital versions of the Air Jordan 3 Retro “Black Cement,” Air Jordan 3 Retro “Palomino,” the ultra-rare Air Jordan 4 Retro “Manilla,” Air Jordan 11 Retro “Bred Velvet,” Nike Air Foamposite One “Galaxy,” the original Nike Cortez colorway from “Forrest Gump” and the classic Nike Shox R4 in metallic silver. Another image shared by the account shows the Air Jordan 11 Retro in its “Columbia Blue” and “Pantone” colorways, but it’s not yet confirmed if those pairs will be in the game.
While this is one of the most ambitious “Fortnite” shoe crossovers thus far, it’s far from the first. Nike has sporadically featured digital products in the game since 2019. In October, Crocs teamed with the video game brand for a physical collaboration inspired by characters and items from the franchise. And in July, “Fortnite” partnered with Adidas to add the brand’s sneakers and apparel to the battle royale video game.
According to the @FortniteStatus account, players can currently unlock the Air Jordan 1 Retro “Black Toe Reimagined” skin but will be unable to equip it until the issue has been sorted out.
There’s no word yet on when the other sneakers will be added to “Fortnite Kicks,” but it’s evident that Epic Games and Nike, Inc. have big plans for the feature. Gamers can likely expect to see more popular sneakers added in the coming months. For now, readers can preview the new in-game styles below.
