Behold the Fortnite version of Echo Windwalker! Wait, sorry, Windwalker Echo. You know, the hero from last yearâs Unreal Engine 5 demo? The one that was running on a PlayStation 5? Fortnite has been trying to convince me to add Windwalker Echo to my slowly growing collection of game skins since last night, but I just donât know.
As Kotakuâs latest Fortnite convert, Iâve quickly come to terms with the weird-ass skins that show up in the in-game shop. Iâm not talking about licensed fictional characters like Superman, Shang-Chi, or Ariana Grande. Iâm talking about the Epic Games originals, like the weird cat thing my former co-worker Riley MacLeod liked. Or whatever a âGalaxy Grapplerâ is, aside from a thing I impulsively spent like $10 on and still canât figure out why.
Epic is building up this amazing stable of unique characters and selling them to players who desperately donât want to look like everyone else playing the game. I get that. I understand it. It makes for some cool models and even cooler toys. But If Epic thinks I am going to spend 800 V-Bucks on a character that appeared twice in what were basically advertisements for the game engine the company makes millions on already, it is probably sorely mistaken.
For one, I only have 500 V-Bucks, having spent most of my monthly allowance on Galaxy Grappler. Although I appreciate Echoâs âTattoos illuminate when opening Chests!â feature itâs just not worth dropping eight bucks for a virtual currency refill. Also, her description says Windwalker Echo is part of the âWind Songâ set, and I cannot hear those two words together without getting a perfume commercial from the 1970s stuck in my head
Epic seems hell-bent on making this demo character a real thing that folks will spend fake money bought with real money on. The company has even tapped Mold3D Studio to produce a brand-new animation demo starring Windwalker Echo to coincide with the Fortnite skinâs release. Had Nvidia been as dedicated to its tech demos weâd be up to our necks in Nvidia fairies right now, and I would be eagerly digging into my V-Bucks wallet to purchase a Dawn skin.
But Windwalker Echo? I donât know. As characters go, sheâs fine. Her hair is brown. Her clothing is brown and blue. She does stuff. Just not 800 V-Bucks worth of stuff. Not yet, at least.
