Universal Studios is bringing the world of Fortnite to its Halloween Horror Nights events this year, offering fans a real-world version of the game’s annual Fortnitemares celebration. The scare zones, now open at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, were developed in partnership with Epic Games to recreate the experience of dropping onto a Fortnite island during spooky season.
Guests enter the Orlando zone through a recreated character-select screen featuring Skull Trooper Jonesy, then find themselves in Freaky Fields, a location from the past two Fortnitemares events. The path is lined with pumpkins, scarecrows, cornfields, barns, and glowing jack-o’-lanterns, all designed to evoke the game’s Halloween aesthetic. The journey ends at a point of interest where the Battle Bus and a spooky party await, a nod to the extraction endgame introduced in the game’s last season.
Ramón Paradoa, show director for creative development at Universal Orlando, explained that the goal was to go beyond simply copying the game’s look. The team worked to make the space feel immersive, a process they call “HHNifying” the property. That means bringing in characters from Fortnite lore, including the Shadows, which first appeared in the 2020 Fortnitemares event as monsters players became after being eliminated, and Husks from Fortnite: Save the World. Both types of monsters roam the zone as costumed characters, along with skinned “players” who interact with guests.
The scare zone also includes Skeleterra, a character who performs emotes for guests taking photos and videos. While she was not present during a recent visit, other characters like Hollowhead and Curdle Scream Leader were on hand, and several spots in the zone are designed to serve as backdrops for social media content. Paradoa also confirmed that non-Fortnite characters will appear in the maze, including skins from past Fortnitemares events such as Michael Myers, Billy the Puppet, and Jason Voorhees, all of whom are familiar figures at Halloween Horror Nights.
One of the most ambitious elements of the zone is its use of technology. According to Paradoa, it is the most extensive use of tech ever deployed in a Halloween Horror Nights scare zone. The centerpiece is a recreation of the storm that closes in on players during a Fortnite match. LED lighting in the trees, purple floodlights, and smoke machines are timed to simulate the circle shrinking, with light strips approximating electricity and smoke rising as if the guest were losing health. Paradoa called it one of the coolest things the event has ever done, noting that the effect is felt no matter where a guest is standing in the zone.
The Fortnitemares scare zones follow a recent trend of gaming properties appearing at Halloween Horror Nights, following The Last of Us, Fallout, and Five Nights at Freddy’s in previous years. Each of the two Universal parks has its own unique take on the Fortnitemares theme, giving visitors on both coasts a chance to experience the crossover. The event runs throughout the Halloween season, offering a new way for Fortnite fans to engage with the game’s world outside of their screens.