Stick Talk: Fortnite, Jumpman Collab Shows How The Video Game Revamps Brands For Gen Z
Fortnite (Epic Games) x Jordan Brand
Fortnite continues collaborate with various A-Tier brands, themed events and in-game items.
Previously, franchises like Avengers: Endgame and John Wick implemented themselves into the popular video game. However, one of its biggest brand crossovers to date has been with the Jordan Brand.
As part of their new collab, Epic Games has launched a new “Downtown Drop LTM” world by Jordan. It requires players to launch off massive jumps, grind down city streets and collect coins to win. A mode that very much reminds me of the mobile game Subway Surf.
The fact that another A-Tier brand is working with Fortnite isn’t anything new. This game generates millions of dollars and exposure for itself and others, serving as a marketing gold mine. But aligning with Jumpman put Fortnite in rare space.
Why? Because Jordan’s image has always been around exclusivity. Whether it was exclusive sneakers, highly touted signed athletes, the legacy itself, to be a part of the family was always a big deal.
But times are changing and so is the Jordan brand’s presence. Their target demographic is partially hardcore fans of Jordan, but the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have replaced arguably the greatest NBA player of all-time in the minds of today's youth.
A generation has grown old and now the brand is reinserting themselves into an untapped market and business with this Fortnite collab mode, it makes complete sense. And just like the athlete-endorsed brand, Fortnite changed its respective industry in a major way, making this relationship a match made in heaven.
The tides have turned and Jumpman has headed over to video games and esports to revamp its identify and retain Generation Z. A brand that thrived off of exclusivity is now tapping into a market than many brands are diving head first into. Truly showing the power of both not only the gaming/esports industry, but of Fortnite.
This video game is remixing, revamping and rethinking the ways that brands integrate themselves into a growing and thriving world filled with money and attainable youth.
Fortnite is not only changing the gaming industry, but it's also changing the game period.
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