Fortnite’s Sidekicks give Epic Games new ways to sell and promote companion cosmetics, but there is no public evidence that they are “printing money.” Epic has not disclosed Sidekick sales, revenue, player spending, or profitability. What its official materials do show is a cosmetic category with permanent appearance choices, an expansion into creator-made islands, and at least one game-purchase promotion.
What Epic introduced with Fortnite Sidekicks
Epic’s October 30, 2025 announcement introduced Sidekicks as companions that react to the world around players. They are available across Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite, developer-made experiences, and more. The announcement said the first Sidekick would be available through the next Battle Pass on November 1, with more coming to the Item Shop on November 7. Players who already owned the matching Bonesy Back Bling were to receive the Sidekick as well. Epic’s announcement was published in French; its localized character names should not be treated as the English product names.
Sidekicks are cosmetics, but their appearance rules create a potential reason for some owners to buy another copy. That is a plausible sales mechanism—not evidence that players have done so or that it has produced meaningful revenue.
How permanent appearance choices could encourage another purchase
Epic Support says a Sidekick’s appearance can be customized once after it is obtained, if that Sidekick supports customization. After the player locks in the choices, they are permanent. The same Sidekick can be purchased more than once to own different appearances, but each appearance must be unique; duplicate appearances cannot be added to the Locker. Some Sidekicks cannot be customized at all. Epic’s support guidance states: “Your choices are permanent after you lock them in.”
#1 Best Overall
- PEELY: Board the Battle Bus and drop in with Fortnite Legendary Peely!
- FORTNITE: 6-inch action figure is inspired by the video game Fortnite
- ARTICULATED: Feature 28 points of articulation to win any Battle Royale
- ACCESSORIES: Comes equipped with Back Bling and Harvesting Tools
- BONUS CODE: Code for virtual item included: CODE
For a customizable Sidekick, a player who regrets a locked-in look may have an incentive to obtain another copy for a different appearance. The rule does not establish how many players do this, whether another copy costs money in a particular case, or how much Epic earns from the mechanic.
How players can obtain Sidekicks
Epic’s published examples show three acquisition routes. The sources do not provide a verified current price for the relevant Item Shop Sidekicks, so this comparison focuses on how each route works and what is established about appearance choices.
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- GILDED TROOPER: Board the Battle Bus and drop in with Fortnite Legendary Tomatohead!
- FORTNITE: 6-inch action figure is inspired by the video game Fortnite
- ARTICULATED: Feature 28 points of articulation to win any Battle Royale
- ACCESSORIES: Comes equipped with Back Bling and Harvesting Tools
- BONUS CODE: Code for virtual item included: Pink Streak
| Route | What the official material says | Appearance customization and permanence |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Pass | Epic’s October 30, 2025 announcement said the first Sidekick would be unlocked through the next Battle Pass on November 1. Announcement | Customization depends on whether that Sidekick supports it. For supported Sidekicks, choices are permanent after lock-in. Epic Support |
| Fortnite Item Shop | Epic’s announcement said more Sidekicks would enter the shop on November 7, 2025. It also said existing Bonesy Back Bling owners would receive the matching Sidekick. Announcement | Customization is not universal. Where supported, the appearance locks permanently after the player confirms it; additional copies must have unique appearances. Epic Support |
| Eligible Epic Games Store game purchase | Epic’s Super Meat Boy 3D FAQ says eligible purchases from March 31, 2026 grant the Super Meat Boy Sidekick when the game and Fortnite use the same Epic account. If the player already bought that Sidekick in the Fortnite Item Shop, the FAQ says the player instead receives 1,500 V-Bucks. A refund removes a Sidekick granted through the game purchase, and the FAQ says it might be purchasable in the Fortnite Shop later. Epic Games Store FAQ | The FAQ does not state whether the promotional Sidekick supports appearance customization or describe its lock-in rules. |
Why Sidekicks in creator-made islands matter
Epic has expanded Sidekicks beyond player-owned cosmetics. Its UEFN documentation describes them as NPC companions with distinct emotes, customizable appearances, and scriptable behaviors. Creators can use them in experiences such as monster battlers, farming simulations, and creature-collection RPGs. Epic’s documentation lists more than 30 Sidekicks to choose from; this is Epic’s current vendor-stated count, not an independent market tally. Read the UEFN Sidekicks documentation.
Creators cannot build a Sidekick from scratch, but they can configure its appearance, outfit, behavior, animations, and name. Sidekicks from intellectual properties cannot be customized. With Cosmetic Sync, an island’s NPC can take the form of the Sidekick a player has equipped, including licensed Sidekicks. That can make ownership more visible in creator-made experiences, but Epic does not say that creators receive a share of Sidekick sales.
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Rank #3
- GILDED TROOPER: Board the Battle Bus and drop in with Fortnite Legendary Skull Trooper (Gilded)!
- FORTNITE: 6-inch action figure is inspired by the video game Fortnite
- ARTICULATED: Feature 28 points of articulation to win any Battle Royale
- ACCESSORIES: Comes equipped with Back Bling and Harvesting Tools
- BONUS CODE: Code for virtual item included: Mecha-jolly
Epic’s Fortnite 41.00 ecosystem notes say Sidekicks became scriptable island NPCs, with publishing using them scheduled to start July 23. Epic also said creature-based islands would be eligible for a new Collection page and additional Discover featuring opportunities, and added a Pet Props Gallery with treats, toys, grooming gear, and accessories for island creators. These are signs of platform investment and potential discovery support for creature-based islands—not proof of Sidekick sales or creator earnings. See Epic’s Fortnite 41.00 ecosystem notes.
What the Super Meat Boy 3D promotion demonstrates
The Super Meat Boy 3D offer is an official example of a game-purchase promotion tied to a Fortnite Sidekick. Epic’s FAQ specifies the eligible purchase start date, the same-account condition, what happens if the buyer already owns the Sidekick, and the effect of a refund. The FAQ also says the Sidekick might be available in Fortnite’s shop later. Epic Games Store’s promotion FAQ documents one such arrangement; it does not establish how common these promotions are or whether this one was profitable.
Rank #4
- DRIFT: Board the Battle Bus and drop in with Fortnite Legendary Drift!
- FORTNITE: 6-inch action figure is inspired by the video game Fortnite
- ARTICULATED: Feature 28 points of articulation to win any Battle Royale
- ACCESSORIES: Comes equipped with Back Bling and Harvesting Tools
- BONUS CODE: Code for virtual item included: Meteor
Does this mean Sidekicks will print money for Epic?
No public figures in the official materials reviewed establish Sidekick sales, revenue, spending per player, margins, or profitability. The evidence supports a narrower conclusion: Epic has built a new cosmetic category with several acquisition routes, a repeat-purchase possibility for unique customized appearances, and uses in creator-made islands. It has also documented a cross-promotion with an Epic Games Store title. Those are monetization opportunities, not a financial result.
To show that Sidekicks are a major business for Epic, the company would need to publish figures such as units sold, revenue, repeat-purchase rates, or earnings from promotions. Without those numbers, “about to print money” remains speculation rather than a verified claim.
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- MIDAS: Board the Battle Bus and drop in with Fortnite Legendary Midas!
- FORTNITE: 6-inch action figure is inspired by the video game Fortnite
- ARTICULATED: Feature 28 points of articulation to win any Battle Royale
- ACCESSORIES: Comes equipped with Back Bling and Harvesting Tools
- BONUS CODE: Code for virtual item included: SOS
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