Fortnite goes galactic with space-themed skin to launch new subscription service

Fortnite Galaxia skin
Fortnite will launch its Crew Pack Dec. 2, 2020 with the Galaxia skin, plus other bling. (Image credit: Epic Games)

The popular battle royale game Fortnite picked a space theme to launch its new subscription service.

The service, called Fortnite Crew, blasts off Wednesday (Dec. 2) and includes the Galaxia skin, who is a masked, starry crusader ready to do battle with a Cosmic Llamacorn Pickaxe and Fractured World Back Bling.

The subscription costs $11.99 a month and brings members a monthly "crew pack", including an exclusive outfit, 1,000 V-Bucks (or roughly $7.99) to buy other items, and access to the current season of content, Fortnite creator Epic Games said in a statement.

The Galaxia skin follows on from a slew of new space-related content that Fortnite gave players in the past few seasons. (Long-time players should note: this is a distinct skin from the Galaxy and Galaxy Scout outfits previously launched.)

Related: Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 is packed with astronauts and we're thrilled

Fortnite's current season — Chapter 2, Season 4 — is Marvel-themed, but there are space elements to it. Rifts in space-time have been popping up around the map, and the occasional space skin (including a new "Star Wars" ship) appeared in the Fortnite shop from time to time. The season will end with the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus, arriving in the Nexus War finale event on Tuesday (Dec. 1) at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT), so more cosmic things may come soon. (Galactus has been hurtling through space toward the Fortnite island the entire season.)

The previous Chapter 2, Season 3 this past summer was also packed with space content. Players found themselves chasing the story (and spaceship) of a mysterious ancient astronaut, Deo, who came up for sale in the Fortnite shop. The season Battle Pass included Siona, the female astronaut counterpart to Deo, along with numerous other bits of space-themed content. The shop was also active with different spacey deals, and all active players that season received the Shooting Starstaff Pickaxe for free.

Fortnite also hit the news this year concerning ongoing Apple and Google disputes over direct payments for mobile apps. Earlier this month, as Apple faced a new Fortnite lawsuit, the tech giant announced smaller developers will only pay 15% commission rather than the current 30%, starting on Jan. 1, 2021.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace