In the 23 years I’ve known my sister,Fortniteis the only video game I’ve been able to get her to play on a consistent basis since our days of playingSonic the Hedgehog2and3back when we were kids. You may think, “Well yeah, everyone has fallen in love withFortniteat one time or another. It’s a very popular game.” And you’re right. Part of the reason is that it’s extremely fun, especially since she, my partner, our friend, and I havemade it into our go-to group activity. But one big aspect that keeps bringing her back is the fact that she can see herself in the characters she uses in the game.
Notably, she uses the featured skins of Hollywood star Zendaya, who become the main character in herFortniteexperience. For her, it’s not about playing as her favorite Spider-Man character, but as a hero that actually looks like her.
More than skins
My sister has always looked for Black women to look up to in pop culture. Women that look like her and share her sensibilities — and the big and small struggles she goes through. Zendaya became that, and her inclusion inFortnitequite literally changed the game for my sister. Suddenly, she wasn’t just playing a game as a white character that she had no connection with. She was playing as someone she looked up to and could relate to on multiple levels, complexion included.
My sister and other Black players, especially women, are constantly looking for games where they can see a main character that somewhat resembles them. Despite so many games being on the market, it’s never been an easy thing to do. We’ve got our badasses like Garcian Smith fromKiller7, Shinobu fromNo More Heroes, and a few more, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one that isn’t just a stereotype or played for sex appeal (yes, that includes iconic heroes like Barrett fromFinal Fantasy 7and Laura or Elena from Street Fighter). WhileFortnitehas been mocked by “hardcore gamers,” it’s arguably done this better than 80% of the industry since its initial release with the series’ original characters.
There are titles that share cultural status withFortnitein the gaming world — Super Smash Bros., World of Warcraft, andOverwatch, all come to mind. But none of them have made the diverse strides thatFortnitehas been making since its start.
Super Smash Bros still doesn’t have a real Black character (no, I’m not counting palette swaps, and yes, I’m still burnt over Twintelle getting robbed),World of Warcraftdidn’t let players actually be Blackor any other ethnicity for 15 years, andOverwatchdidn’t introduced first Black femalecharacter until recently, with its upcoming sequel. Meanwhile, like players jumping off the Battle Bus,Fortnitehas been dropping skinsthat are all shades of Black and brown since its inception.
Epic Games has gone beyond most games in its approach to giving players more options. InFortnite, there are certain outfits called “character styles” that frequently appear in the item shop. Many times, Epic will add various characters that can be suited up in these styles. When that happens, the characters typically span across many skin tones and ethnicities, letting players choose those they feel closest to. Systems like that naturally expand players’ ability to find a hero that best represents them.
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— Fortnite (@FortniteGame)June 25, 2025
No,Fortniteisn’t perfect with its representation. There are still more groups that can be celebrated in the game. But what other game are you seeing boast an in-game Ramadan-inspired Lantern Fest with Muslim-inspired skins? The fact that there’s a video game that is looking to branch out to literally everyone that plays it is stunning to me as a Black guy. It’s something I never thought I’d see going back to my days as a child playing the Dreamcast.
Watching my sister’s excitement over Zendaya becoming aFortniteskinserves as a constant reminder to me that representation in gaming, and media in general, does matter. I’m not saying that every game needs to insert colors out of obligation. However, as shown in blockbusters likeApex Legends,Horizon: Forbidden West, andFortnite —as well as bad examples likeElden Ringand its lack of Black hairstyles— there is always someone hoping to find themselves in the games they play. The minds behind these experiences need to make sure that they can create better links between players and their virtual world, especially in a time where literally everyone is gaming.
