On March 18, 2025, Shohei Ohtani, the renowned MLB player from the Dodgers, will make history by appearing as the first MLB athlete in the Fortnite Icon Series. This collaboration between Epic Games and one of baseball's brightest stars is being celebrated with the release of themed costumes and special gameplay events, coinciding with the opening game of the MLB Tokyo Series against the Cubs.
Beginning at 9 AM JST on March 18, Ohtani's Fortnite skin will be available for players. The skin showcases Ohtani's jersey number "17" and offers three distinct styles: 'Home White,' 'Away Gray,' and 'LEGO Style.' Adding charm to the character, players can accessorize their avatars with 'Dekopin,' the adorable bobblehead of Ohtani's beloved dog, as well as wield the themed harvesting tool, 'Trusted Two-Way,' modeled after a pitching machine.
Pricing details for the new skins suggest they will range between 1500 to 1800 V-Bucks, with the potential to exceed 2000 V-Bucks if purchased as part of additional skins or emotes.
Ohtani fans will also be treated to two unique emotes with the collaboration: 'Wan-ko Home Run,' which allows characters to perform hitting poses with the bobblehead assisting, and 'Respectful Batter,' where Ohtani's signature on-field routine is showcased to amplify positive energy.
Another exciting feature is the introduction of the reactive skin known as 'Samurai Shohei,' which changes as the player achieves milestones during matches. Specifically, when players take down opponents, Ohtani's right arm will ignite as a visual effect, adding to the gameplay experience.
Alongside this launch, special quests themed around Ohtani will be available starting at 11 PM JST on March 18. Players will engage with challenges indexing Ohtani’s historic '50-50' season, having to complete tasks like finishing three matches within the top 17, eliminating three players from over 50 meters, and performing various specific activities within matches. Successfully completing these quests will grant players experience points (XP), valuable for leveling up their battle pass and other progression systems within the game.
Prior to the skin's release, the Shohei Ohtani Cup, held on March 15 at 6 PM JST, allowed players to compete for early access to Ohtani's exclusive costume 'Samurai Shohei.' The solo battle royale tournament noticed substantial participation as players clashed for the highest points over the span of three hours, with each player needing to have two-factor authentication enabled on their Epic Games account and achieve account level 50 or higher to join.
Reflecting on this unprecedented collaboration, Ohtani expressed his excitement during an exclusive interview with ORICON NEWS, emphasizing the honor he feels representing baseball within such a popular gaming platform. He remarked, "I am really happy and honored to have this opportunity. I hope many people will play and enjoy this collaboration," pointing out the reach it could have beyond just baseball fans.
This collaboration stands out as Ohtani joins notable figures across various fields partnering with Fortnite, including sports legends like LeBron James and Lionel Messi, and cultural icons from music and anime. Recognized as the "Unicorn" of baseball due to his unique two-way play abilities, Ohtani explained he hopes this collaboration might inspire those who might not typically engage with baseball to discover the sport. "There are many star players in Major League Baseball, but I am deeply honored to be chosen for this project," he said, thinking about the positive impact he hopes it will have on bringing new fans to the game.
The hype around this collaboration was palpable even before the official announcement. On March 10, promotional ads teasing Ohtani’s Fortnite costume emerged across Tokyo stations, sparking widespread interest on social media. Ohtani, witnessing the buzz from his training camp, expressed satisfaction with the advertisement, saying, "It was really cool and well done. After hearing the official announcement the next day, my teammates and friends responded enthusiastically, with comments like 'I can’t wait' and 'this is going to be an exciting collaboration.'
Overall, this innovative merging of sports and gaming not only marks Ohtani's first venture as part of Fortnite’s widespread cultural influence but also celebrates the unique relationship athletes can form with fans through new and engaging formats. With such collaborations blurring the lines between reality and digital experiences, it sets the stage for exciting developments for both sports and gaming communities alike.