Because apparently we haven’t milked this franchise enough yet, Epic Games has decided to bring a piece of nostalgia to Fortnite in the form of a Neopets collaboration. I mean, who wouldn’t want to combine the thrill of battle royale with the excitement of collecting virtual pets? It’s not like we’ve seen enough crossovers and collaborations in the gaming industry already. The first Neopets sidekick to arrive in Fortnite is Aisha, which can be purchased from the Fortnite Shop from July 2 at 8 pm ET to July 9 at 8 pm ET. Because what’s a gaming experience without a limited-time offer to create a sense of urgency and encourage players to spend their hard-earned V-Bucks?
The Nostalgia Train Has Arrived
For those who grew up in the late 90s and 2000s, Neopets was a staple of online gaming. It was a free-to-access browser game that let players collect and care for their own virtual pets, explore the world of Neopia, and engage in various activities. The game was a huge success, and it’s no surprise that Epic Games wants to tap into that nostalgia. After all, who doesn’t love a good dose of nostalgia to make them feel old and nostalgic? The Aisha sidekick comes with a Nosh-o-Matic emote, which allows players to feed their sidekick a variety of treats, including a Carrot and Pea Omelette, a Fish Negg, or a Necola Slushie. Because what’s a virtual pet without the ability to feed it virtual food?
More Neopets Sidekicks on the Horizon?
While nothing has been officially confirmed, it’s likely that we’ll see more Neopets sidekicks in the future. I mean, why stop at just one when you can have dozens of other creatures to choose from? The possibilities are endless, and I’m sure the marketing team at Epic Games is already salivating at the prospect of releasing more limited-time offers and collaborations. It’s not like we’ve seen this playbook before, with games like Fortnite and other live-service titles relying on constant updates and new content to keep players engaged. Some executive somewhere got a bonus for this, I’m sure.
The Relaunch of Neopets
For those who want to relive the nostalgia of Neopets or experience it for the first time, the game underwent a massive rebranding and relaunch in 2023. Players can head to the official website to sign up, pick their buddy, and start exploring the world of Neopia. It’s a great opportunity to experience the game that started it all, and who knows, you might even discover a new favorite virtual pet. The PS2 memory card community is devastated, by the way, as they’re still trying to figure out how to transfer their old Neopets data to the new game.
Fortnite: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Fortnite is available on a plethora of platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PC, and Android. Because what’s a gaming experience without the ability to play it on every device imaginable? The game’s constant updates and new content ensure that players always have something to look forward to, whether it’s a new season, a new collaboration, or a new way to spend their V-Bucks. Another day, another roadmap, and another opportunity for Epic Games to print money. Nature is healing, indeed. Shareholders rejoice, as the never-ending cycle of gaming revenue continues to churn out profits. Live-service enthusiasts are preparing the candles and summoning circle, as they eagerly await the next big update. At this point, even the loading screens have lore, so it’s not like we’re surprised by anything anymore.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
