In just over two years, Fortnite has grossed nearly $5 billion in revenue. As a free-to-play game, a sizable portion of those earnings come from optional in-game purchases such as skins, back-bling, and pickaxes. These cosmetic offerings extend no tactical advantage or skill boost to those who dawn them yet continue to be Fortnite’s biggest moneymaker.
The reason for that is clear. Fortnite’s battle pass and in-game shop are regularly updated with items that people want to buy. Fortnite’s latest addition to the shop is no exception. The free Neon Wings back bling, the arrival of which was leaked by dataminers early last week, was officially introduced in-game on Friday, May 8th, as part of Fortnite’s new Party Royale game mode.
In-game events are no stranger to Fortnite fans. From the asteroid impact of season 4 to the JJ Abrams Star Wars introduction at the tail-end of chapter one, players have had plenty of reasons to board the battle bus that distract from the impending bloodbath below. Some players, however, used these in-game viewing parties to rack up high-killing games and even set single-game kill records.
After last month’s Travis Scott in-game concert, Epic Games decided to introduce Party Royale to give players a chance to experience a lineup of shows, from the likes of Steve Aoki, Dillon Francis, and deadmau5, without the threat of being sent back to the lobby by players who view these events as an opportunity to go on a killing spree. In Party Royale, players will visit the island without guns, which is why cosmetic choices will be more important than ever before.
To get your hands on the free Neon Wings and look your best at the next event, all you have to do is log into the game between Friday, May 8th at 6 p.m. EST and Monday, May 11th at 10 a.m. EST. It’s that easy. If you’ve already played the game this weekend, check your locker. You probably already have them.
The Neon Wings are of epic rarity, so make sure you get your hands on the back bling before the window closes. There’s no telling when they’ll next appear in the shop, and they definitely won’t be free when they do.
If you’re interested in participating in one of the upcoming Party Royale shows, check out the full schedule.