Call it a game, call it a platform, call it a metaverse, call it whatever you want, really. Fortnite is a huge stage for all sorts of shenanigans, and that stage will soon host Ariana Grande.
She’s kicking off the Rift Tour on Aug. 6, with a full weekend of events planned to ensure that Fortnite fans of all ages and time zones can have a chance to check it out. Epic Games announced the news on Sunday alongside a short trailer hyping the event.
Epic recommends that fans plan to arrive 60 minutes before the scheduled start times for each event. Then, 30 minutes before showtime, the “Rift Tour Playlist” of Fortnite-themed experiences “pairing popular tracks with moments based on elements from the game” will go live.
Assuming the Rift Tour follows the lead of past Fortnite engagements with music stars, Grande will show up and perform a short, likely pre-recorded concert. There will be five shows in all between Friday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 8. (You can find the full schedule here.)
Of course, no Fortnite event is truly complete without Epic giving fans the opportunity to spend money on themed digital items. Grande’s “Icon Series” in the Fortnite Item Shop will include an outfit and “Piggy Smallz Back Bling.” Everyone who attends one of the shows will also receive a free “Cuddly Cloudcruiser” umbrella in-game, to snazz up their journeys from the Battle Bus to the ground.
These in-game Fortnite events tend to be cool experiences where the game piece of the experience falls by the wayside as fans gather to just soak in the vibe. Epic’s decision to stage multiple shows over the course of the weekend, and at wildly different times, should give everyone a chance to hop in and watch things “live.” Just make sure your copy of Fortnite is up-to-date well in advance.
