One of the most talked about movies of 2026 is already teaming up with the smash-hit battle royale Fortnite, as Nikki from Curry Barker’s psychological horror Obsession has debuted as a playable character skin, but the new offering has been quickly met with mixed reactions from fans. Fortnite has long been known to team up with major franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, and Obsession is far from the first horror film to be introduced courtesy of the annual Fortnitemares Halloween event. However, the specific choice of Nikki, along with a weird change to the design of her in-game character model, has raised more than a few eyebrows.
For those unfamiliar, Fortnitemares introduces iconic Halloween and horror characters as part of a limited-time event each October, giving players a chance to transform their gameplay with skins of familiar faces such as Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street and Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, among many others. For the 2026 iteration of the event, Obsession was included as one of the newer IPs to be included in Fortnitemares, and yet the big collaboration moment for what many have hailed as an indie darling of modern horror cinema has been less than stellar in the eyes of audiences.
Nikki from Obsession in Fortnite Draws Backlash from Fans
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When Epic Games first confirmed that Obsession would be coming to Fortnite, many believed the crossover would only be added via the One Wish Willow Sprite, leaving many surprised to see Nikki later revealed as an official character skin. While the in-game model does bear a strong resemblance to actress Inde Navarrette, who portrays Nikki in the movie, many fans quickly noticed that the “blood” on her face and neck is instead an oily black color. Horror fans and Fortnite players alike have voiced confusion and disappointment with the change, with many wondering why Epic decided to add the dark mystery substance rather than simply omit the blood entirely. Other horror characters in Fortnitemares have similarly had their usual bloody appearances watered down for a more family-friendly experience, but many gamers are now debating whether there is any point in including a black liquid substitute.
Drag weapons to fill the grid
In addition to the complaints over Nikki’s blackened-blood appearance, there has also been backlash for including the character in any capacity in Fortnite. Those who have seen the film have pointed out the heavy themes of lack of bodily autonomy and the subsequent split between Possessed Nikki causing harm while Real Nikki was a victim of the circumstances of the One Wish Willow. Counterarguments have pointed to Obsession being a smaller project that massively over-performed expectations at the box office, and the inclusion of Nikki in a huge game like Fortnite could introduce more players to the movie and Nikki’s story. As such, the conversations about Nikki in Fortnite remain largely divided, but the one thing players seem to agree on is their dislike of the fake black blood splatter on the Nikki character skin.
Overall, Fortnitmares 2026 has been well received, largely due to the inclusion of characters from Five Nights at Freddy’s, Hazbin Hotel, and Hollow Knight. It is unknown if Epic Games will be making any cosmetic changes to Nikki to alleviate some of the audience critiques, though it would not be the first time that the company altered an IP character. Previously, a Peacemaker emote dance was adjusted after complaints, so some fans may want to keep an eye out for any potential updates from Fortnite before the Fortnitemares 2026 event wraps up.
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September 26, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
