What Are Fortnite's Top Third-Party IP Skins?

This analysis explores the performance of third-party intellectual property (IP) within Fortnite, utilizing data from Fortnite-Replay.info and Fortnite.gg to track skin usage across PC game replays. By measuring the percentage of players using a specific skin during its launch patch, the study identifies which external brands and celebrities resonate most effectively within the game’s ecosystem.

The findings reveal a significant dominance of superhero culture, with Marvel and DC characters accounting for 14 of the top 20 most-used Battle Pass skins. Beyond traditional superheroes, the data highlights the strong cross-generational appeal of IPs like Rick & Morty and Star Wars. In the category of "item shop" skins—those purchased individually rather than earned through a Battle Pass—real-world celebrities lead the charts. Musicians Travis Scott and Eminem hold top positions, followed closely by sports figures like Lewis Hamilton and gaming personalities like Bugha. Notably, Japanese media also shows a strong presence through Naruto and Dragon Ball collaborations.

The scope of the research extends to broader industry trends, including Steam wishlist conversion rates and the impact of social media marketing. Data indicates that the median conversion from launch wishlist balance to first-week sales is 0.20x, though this varies by genre, with RPGs and simulations seeing higher medians of 0.28x. Additionally, case studies of titles like Fruitbus and Cabernet demonstrate that TikTok virality significantly boosts daily wishlists, even if direct tracking via UTM codes remains difficult due to users switching from mobile apps to desktop Steam clients.

Methodologically, the Fortnite data relies on thousands of uploaded PC replays, categorized by patch cycles to account for the natural usage decline of older skins. The broader industry insights are drawn from survey results of approximately 50 to 500 games, depending on the granularity of the subgenre analysis. Overall, the findings underscore the high value of celebrity and established IP in driving player engagement within platform-based games.